
Those who love quality music know that magic exists.
I’m not talking about the art taught around Hogwarts, but about that moment in which something happens that is difficult to explain rationally.
A communion of intent that aligns with the stars and destiny and creates something unique.
The collaboration between the Texan singer-songwriter Hayes Carll and the Austin rock band The Band of Heathens is not new.
They have played together many times live in these 10 years and it was in the air that sooner or later they would join forces in the studio.
But we were talking about magic and that came abundantly when in October 2023 they played in a place that is full of magic dust, namely Luckenbach.
From that moment everything flowed naturally and 8 songs came out that make them seem like a real band: as if they had been together for 20 years.
Carll‘s ability to write wonderful songs is well known, as is BOH‘s ability to write rock songs infiltrated by Texas country: together they pull a jewel out of the hat.
The album begins with an ironic and incisive piece, rock and fun: Nobody Dies From Weed.
You could stop here and you would have an idea of what kind of music will come out of the speakers, but not listening to the following would be a crime.
The piano starts with a boogie-woogie rhythm that introduces Any Other Way and you realize how much Carll‘s songwriting class added to the rock soul of the Band of Heathens complement each other: fun, explosive and what work on the guitars, friends!
Ed Jurdi and Gordi Quist seem born to play with the most underrated talent in Texas music. What a trio!
See How They Run is a sunny rock ballad, with a splendid arrangement.
An enveloping rhythm like the first warm sun of spring: invigorating and pleasant and the beautiful multi-voiced choir does nothing but give us emotions.
The following Nothin’ To Do With Your Love is an almost dark blues rock that is perhaps the most disconcerting result of this collaboration.
None of these artists has ever played a song like this and perhaps the magic here is even more evident: a real gem.
I love the guitar work throughout the album, but even more so in this song.
Water from Holy Grail is elegant rhythm, it is guitars, it is an intense voice and it ends with splendid solos.
It is a song that makes us think that this “super group”, as the important magazines say, has not dusted off this rough diamond: the best is yet to come. Write down this thought of mine.
Carll is Shane Smith‘s favorite artist (Shane Smith & the Saints), but the following Adeline is not a cover, but I would have listened to it with curiosity.
It is a ballad with a dry, almost acoustic arrangement and here Hayes‘ voice is at ease, he was born for songs like this. Intense lyrics and emotions in abundance.
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) is a cover of The Proclaimers, here in a guise that smacks of country rock and funk.
In the studio with that naturalness typical of those who know each other well and are not afraid to jam guitars and voice transforming a beautiful piece into a magnificent cover.
The album closes with another piece with an irresistible rhythm: You Can’t Stay Here.
There is a taste of the vintage Rolling Stones, those of Exhile and it is not an exaggerated compliment, that album, all things considered, was born with this same spirit.
A collaboration that gives us one of the most original, fresh and successful albums of this amazing 2024 that never ceases to amaze us.
It will be difficult to stop listening to these 8 songs and, certainly, you can only hope that this group of artists will find themselves in a recording studio again and abandon themselves once again to the magic that this “debut” has given us.
When you get tired of these 8 songs, I suggest you go and discover the discography of one of the greatest Texan singer-songwriters, Hayes Carll, and one of the most original and talented Texan bands, The Band of Heathens, you won’t regret it.
Texas never disappoints.
Enjoy your listening,
Trex