Killers, Open Country, and Gun Smoke: Robert Dean’s The Red Seven Playlist

Farce the Music contributor Robert Dean is not only our resident gonzo reviewer of all things punk, hardcore, and Americana, he's also an author. His novel The Red Seven (which I'm about to start reading) is a "Southern Gothic western" full of violence, revenge, and intrigue. Here, he provides a soundtrack (and a Spotify playlist!) for his book. -Trailer

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When you write a book, you’re alone, like all the time. You spend so many hours locked away; it’s just you, your thoughts and many times, the music. Music is central to my creative process. It means the world to me. I’m always thinking about music, about what a song means, how it feels, the texture of the song to the moment.

When I wrote The Red Seven, I tried to capture a spirit. I wanted the main hombre, The Ghost to be ruthless, but I wanted to give him gravitas – a sense that he thrived in chaos. I listened to music that had guts, soul – stuff that held weight in its hands.

The Ghost, along with the villains of the book aren’t paper tigers, they’re layered characters. Music helped visualize and give flaws to some of them. Maybe it was a nod to Keith Richards, or a twang of Otis Rush – all of it’s in there, in the words. 

The Red Seven isn’t just about revenge and killing; it’s about the human experience and what loss does to someone. It’s about how losing someone you love in senseless was changes how you function, how you feel. That’s at the heart of The Red Seven. Is it a fast paced page turner? Hell yeah, it is. But, it’s all got moments of reality that even though they’re from back in the day, those moments never change – they’re everlasting because we’re human, and the animalistic spirit never leaves us. Whether fucking or fighting, we revert; it’s in our DNA. That’s a symbolic way to look at The Ghost – stalking with purpose. 

This playlist I’ve created reflects my moods when creating the book when creating this world. I’m not wild about contemporary music invading a time and place in the past. But, this playlist represents what the book feels like. What the scenes feel like. What bars, what sex, what violence sounds like. I wanted to take a musical journey and take the readers of the book along for the ride. So, if you’ve got an ache for a new book to read, pick up a copy of The Red Seven and pop on this playlist. Maybe you’ll see some shades you’d never imagined while driving deep into a vicious world.

Please check out my Spotify playlist. I spent a shitload of time on this.

~Robert Dean

Vengeance Gonna Be My Name – Slackeye Slim
Wayfaring Stranger - Jack White
Can the Circle be Unbroken – The Carter Family
Lungs - Townes Van Zandt
I Saw The Light- Hank Williams
Sins Of My Father – Tom Waits
Sleepwalk - Santo and Johnny
To be Treated Right - Terry Reid
A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
Midnight Rider – The Allman Brothers
Death Letter Blues -Son House
Loving Cup – Rolling Stones
‪I Can’t Quit you Baby - Otis Rush

‪It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels – Kitty Wells
Nights in White Satin – The Moody Blues
Loan Me A Dime - Boz Scaggs & Duane Allman
Rollin’ and Tumblin’ - Elmore James
First Time I Met The Blues – Buddy Guy
Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix
Angel Flying Too Close to The Ground – Willie Nelson
Life By The Drop - Doyle Bramhall

Fun With Google Searches: Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, FGL, etc.

These are the actual results (or autocomplete options) from Google searches

Nope. Not commenting on this one.

He's definitely not, but some of his songs will certainly make YOU dumber.

Bad.... ass! Am I right? No? Okay.

Sorry Wheeler.

The eternal mystery.

Some of his single choices recently may have lead to this search.

Car Seat Headrest Performs "Fill in the Blank"

From one of my favorite albums of 2016, Teens of Denial, here's Car Seat Headrest performing "Fill in the Blank." RIYL: Pixies, Weezer, JEFF the Brotherhood, Pavement.

Larry Lee the Primitive Baptist Reviews Florida-Georgia Line's "H.O.L.Y."

Florida-Georgia Line - "H.O.L.Y."
(if you must hear this travesty, click here) 

 

I see these two numbskulls are still out here turning truth into lies. They said they were country. They lied. They're supposed to be singers, but they use new fangled computer technology to make their voices sound better. Lies. Now, they're perverting the Word of God. Is there no depths these idiots will sink to to add more cash to their coffers?

First of all, I thought this song was going to be an actual song about praising the Lord. That idea was stupidly based on the title, not the track record of these deviants. Why I'd think two dudes who've made a career out of singing about performing sexual acts on tailgates and kitchen sinks would suddenly repent, I do not know.

This song is about how this man worships a woman as if she was Jesus. That is as vile and repulsive a thing as I've ever come across since I found my son's booty magazines under his mattress when he was 16.  Have these two no souls? Only the Lord is holy. And his Son. And the Holy Ghost. And Sunday. And churches (except the Methodist ones).

What's not holy is the long haired one singing "let me lay you down, give me to ya." I might be old school and unworldly, but I know good and well that means giving her the ol' dirty deacon. I don't want to hear about or have to think about this scraggly looking purveyor of filth having sexual intercourse ever, much less in a song that clearly references spiritual matters. What sickness must reside in the heart of someone who'd tarnish the eternal with tush tapping. Away from me, sinner!

In summary, Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Kelley may as well stand in a baptismal naked, smoking reefers, looking at pornography, burning a flag, while shouting obscenities, as put out a song like this. The only difference is the first one will get you arrested.

Get right, people! The trumpeters are polishing their brass. The horsemen are saddling their steeds. The seals are 'bout to bust open wide.

F

Song Premiere: The Way Down Wanderers - Changing

Photo Credit: Andre Velez

We're premiering a new song today, "Changing," from The Way Down Wanderers. It's from their forthcoming self-titled album, due July 15th. 

The album was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Texas, produced by The Avett Brothers' Mike Marsh, engineered by Grammy Award winning Jerry Ordonez and mixed by multiple-Grammy winner Neil Cappellino, and also includes appearances by Michael Duchette (accordion on "Silver Days") and Old Crow Medicine Show's Critter Fuqua.

You can read more about them below the player.

The Way Down Wanderers Elicit Memories of Old-Time Troubadours

Band's self-titled album weaves tales of love, loss and hope amongst rollicking arrangements

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- May 3, 2016 -- In the few short years since banding together in 2013, The Way Down Wanderers have combined to create something special. The band's infectious lyrics and soulful voices reach far beyond their years, creating commanding tones and insistent harmonies, next on display on their new full-length, self-titled album on July 15, 2016.

 

Recorded at Sonic Ranch in Texas, produced by The Avett Brothers' Mike Marsh, engineered by Grammy Award winning Jerry Ordonez and mixed by multiple-Grammy winner Neil Cappellino, the album also features appearances by Michael Duchette (accordion on "Silver Days") and Old Crow Medicine Show's Critter Fuqua. The collection contains 12 vibrant songs ranging from ballads with a surprise twist -"The Way I Love You"- to driving bluegrass reels -"Dead Birds"- and folk rock stories of the road -"Blacktop Highway." The band quickly hits its stride in the rollicking blend of fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, and drum, creating folky-bluegrass blends reminiscent of Nickel Creek or Old Crow Medicine Show.

 

Natives of Peoria, Illinois, Austin Thompson and Collin Krause, affectionately dubbed "baby Dylan" and "baby Neil Young," respectively by their producer, met up first, and the rest of the band - John Williams on bass and vocals, John Merikoski on drums and percussion, Travis Kowalsky on banjo - would follow. They've gathered a large and dedicated fan base, selling more than 15,000 copies of their first two EPs, with more than 200,000 live streams.

 

There's a wisdom in the songs that extends beyond the writers' youth, that fans and critics alike are noticing - the band is already a finalist in the International Song Writing Competition, 2015, for "Dead Birds" - they expertly craft tales of the joys and sorrows of love, the losses and hopes of life, and the anxious uncertainty of anticipation. It's the closeness to their fans that is a large part of what keeps them writing and making music.

 

"Somebody on the road will tell us that a song or some lyrics got them through a life situation, or helped them in some way," Merikoski said. What's really exciting and gratifying, Williams points out, is that at "lots of our shows the crowd is singing back to us.  The first time I heard it I was overwhelmed; they know our songs."

 

The Way Down Wanderers take their connection to fans a step further with roadside shows they affectionately call restSTOMPS. Traveling in an RV, they are able to stop along tour routes and play acoustic sets. They announce the mile marker, exit number and meeting time on social media and their fans are usually there waiting when the RV pulls in.

 

"For our first rest stop show, a bunch of supporters showed up; they brought their kids and danced in the parking lot; one guy even brought us produce," Thompson said.

 

The band will tour extensively to support the new album - with restSTOMPs along the way.

The Crud Report June '16: Stapleton, FGL, Sam Hunt, etc.

New Video: The Deslondes + Twain

Really Dumb Country Music Reviews: June '16

Actual country song/album reviews from a popular music downloading service.

 

Kelsea Ballerini

 

Johnny Cash

 

 Jason Aldean - Lights Come On

 

Wheeler Walker Jr.

Was this written by Larry Lee the Primitive Baptist?

Florida-Georgia Line - H.O.L.Y.

I Wish They'd Go Back to Bob Seger

A Legendarily Stupid Tweet

The Temperance Movement Covers Creedence

Thomas Rhett Wants to Take You Somewhere

Monday Morning Memes: Kinky, FGL, Luke, Kane, etc.

Awkward Gary Levox Photo of the Week

 

Sunday Mornin' Music: Rhiannon Giddens

Saturday Night Music: The Temperance Movement

From their forthcoming album, White Bear, due July 15. RIYL: Blackberry Smoke, Tesla, Rival Sons.

From the Archives: Larry Lee the Primitive Baptist Reviews Taylor Swift

ORiginally posted AUG 16, 2012

Larry Lee the Primitive Baptist Reviews: Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

(hear song at this link)

What is this? Is this a Hip-Hoppin' song? I don't know what's going on. It sounds like one of the young girls in my church's youth group singing in one of our (non-dancing) musicals. Except those girls sound better. And they don't "rap" (rap is an abomination to the ears of God). And they glorify the Lord with their gifts.

All this Taylor Swift girl is doing is whining about some puppy love affair that broke up. Children should not be able to date until they are 18 anyway, so this seems right on the border of sinfulness that she was being courted by a young fellow anyway. What if they had necked and fallen short of the Lord's grace?

The young man who dumped Ms. Swift is to be applauded for his actions.  Proverbs 31:3 says not to give your strength to women. Anyone who "went out" with this girl would certainly be at the mercy of her money and career and we all know that the man is to rule the roost. My wife knows I wear the polyester slacks in this house, even if she does have to match my shirts and ties for me. I have astigmatism.

I see no real perversions or slights against the heavenly Father in this "song" but the song itself does not glorify Him. It sounds like she sang into an empty can of succotash on her porch while one of them cars with the "booming" speakers rode by. How is this considered music? And anyone who spends his or her $1.29 on this drivel should fall upon their knees and repent that they did not give their money to a more worthy cause, such as the pastor's residence fund at my church. I really need me one of them aluminum roofs.

For its assault upon my auditory system alone, this song gets an:

F!

Luke Bryan's Genre?

New Video: Band of Horses - Whatever, Wherever

From their new album, Why Are You OK, out today.

Album Review: Western Centuries - Weight of the World

A Review by Robert Dean

Western Centuries have released a country record that’s a pleasant mix of 70’s and 80’s styled country that’s light on the irony, but ladles on the thick harmonies. Being from Grunge Capital USA, Seattle Washington, Western Centuries are a nice mixture of textures, styles and sounds.

There’s a definite influence of Texas dancehall, Louisiana Zydeco, and some western swing, but wrapped in a vocal delivery that’s parts Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, and even some hints of John Mayer. Sure, there’s some of the later 70’s nods to Waylon and Willie, but it ain’t about them conjuring up sounds we’ve heard reheated for over forty years.

These country bands popping up in the north have a different take on what country, Americana or even blues can sound like, and to their credit, it’s needed because it keeps the genre honest.

Being from Seattle, Western Centuries are lucky not to fall into the trappings of pop country, but instead likely grew up with a lot of styles of music at their fingers, thus helping forge a sound that’s not contrived or boilerplate like so many country groups that poison Nashville. If anything, I’d give Western Centuries more of a nod to current groups like Hollis Brown, who is also a Yankee band doing it right, Caleb Caudle, Chris Stapleton or even slight nods to Jason Isbell’s risk taking style. 

On their record, Weight of The World, Western Centuries explore all of the harmonic territories, which is refreshing. Instead of relying on just two voices, it feels like the whole damn band is in one big singalong. Weight of The World is a good drinking record, one that you could quietly slip on in the most stringent country bar in the Middle of Nowhere, TN. And when it comes to country music, two things matter: can you two step or drink yourself silly to it? Western Centuries accomplishes both tasks with ease, and in the style of the Flying Burrito Brothers, to boot.

If you’re looking for a record to pop on a, have a few drinks to, this one won’t be tossed into the fire. It’s got its moments, and I wouldn’t mind picking it up on vinyl myself. Give a new band a chance and get out there and give Western Centuries a spin.

Stand out tracks: Sadder Day, The Old You

 Available on iTunes, Amazon, etc.

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Editor's Addendum: Not to undercut Robert's review, but I think Weight of the World is very good and has more than "its moments." It's a great mix of Burrito Bros. style goodness, country soul music, and straight up country. The three lead singers(!!!) (including Cahalen Morrison) are all excellent and bring different angles to the collection through their songwriting, guitar playing, and vocals. It does double-duty as an album you can throw on and enjoy as party music or background music... and a "headphones" album with depth opening up with every listen. There are dance songs, sad songs, drinking songs, and songs that'll make you think. "Off the Shelf" is one of my favorite songs of the year. There's something here for everybody... fans of Van Morrison, The Byrds, Otis Redding, Grateful Dead, Hank Williams, it's a diverse collection that strings together organically and cohesively. Good stuff! -Trailer