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review
WHISKEY MYERS
"TORNILLO"
Reviewer - David Weddle
Taking Country and Rock and blending it with a splash of Big Band, add a garnish of a Gospel quartet and you have the musical cocktail that is "Tornillo", the brand new album from Whiskey Myers.
Recorded at the Sonic Ranch Studio, a 2300 acre, isolated studio in the town of Texan town of Tornillo, right on the US/Mexico border. Whiskey Myers spent 21 days locked away creating a solid track album steeped in the sound of the Deep South. Taking traditional Country and mixing it up with a modern, unique flavour.
The album is full of soul and has a groove that is hard to find anywhere else. In fact, I was trying to fathom what the album reminded me of, then it hit me straight in between the ears, Dimebag Darrell, the legendary Texan who took the Metal genre to a whole New Level with Pantera. His collection of solo tracks, in particular "Whiskey Road" mixed with a hint of The Cadillac Three vibe thrown in for good measure.
The album starts with a stunning instrumental which could easily have been a title track for a spaghetti western or even a Tarantino movie. The album is a gift that just keeps on giving, with the band making use of a brass section, which at times is reminiscent of 90’s British rockers Little Angel’s horn section, The Big Bad Horns. Possibly not a reference that everyone will get, but go check them out.
Whiskey Myers are great story tellers and they put that skill to good use with "Tornillo." From "Feet's", with its stunning guitar work backed up with that glorious horn section, to "For The Kids", with its powerful lyrics matched perfectly with a rousing chorus, whilst tugging at the heartstrings and shining a retrospective light on broken relationships.
With so much crammed into the production, including the use of gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters, Whiskey Myers have created their most accomplished album to date. It definitely feels like they have stepped up their game since their 2019 album, "Mud," which is an achievement in itself considering it reached the No.1 spot on the US Country and Americana/Folk sales charts.
As a whole body of work, "Tornillo" is exceptional and not only breathes new life into Country but drags the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Released on the band’s own label, Wiggy Thump Records, and distributed by Thirty Tigers, "Tornillo" is released on July 29th.
Recorded at the Sonic Ranch Studio, a 2300 acre, isolated studio in the town of Texan town of Tornillo, right on the US/Mexico border. Whiskey Myers spent 21 days locked away creating a solid track album steeped in the sound of the Deep South. Taking traditional Country and mixing it up with a modern, unique flavour.
The album is full of soul and has a groove that is hard to find anywhere else. In fact, I was trying to fathom what the album reminded me of, then it hit me straight in between the ears, Dimebag Darrell, the legendary Texan who took the Metal genre to a whole New Level with Pantera. His collection of solo tracks, in particular "Whiskey Road" mixed with a hint of The Cadillac Three vibe thrown in for good measure.
The album starts with a stunning instrumental which could easily have been a title track for a spaghetti western or even a Tarantino movie. The album is a gift that just keeps on giving, with the band making use of a brass section, which at times is reminiscent of 90’s British rockers Little Angel’s horn section, The Big Bad Horns. Possibly not a reference that everyone will get, but go check them out.
Whiskey Myers are great story tellers and they put that skill to good use with "Tornillo." From "Feet's", with its stunning guitar work backed up with that glorious horn section, to "For The Kids", with its powerful lyrics matched perfectly with a rousing chorus, whilst tugging at the heartstrings and shining a retrospective light on broken relationships.
With so much crammed into the production, including the use of gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters, Whiskey Myers have created their most accomplished album to date. It definitely feels like they have stepped up their game since their 2019 album, "Mud," which is an achievement in itself considering it reached the No.1 spot on the US Country and Americana/Folk sales charts.
As a whole body of work, "Tornillo" is exceptional and not only breathes new life into Country but drags the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Released on the band’s own label, Wiggy Thump Records, and distributed by Thirty Tigers, "Tornillo" is released on July 29th.