If you’re a fan of Americana, you’re always looking for the next great sound. This new album from Smith and Tegio checks a lot of those boxes. The classic instrumentation and gritty vocal style makes it feel like a band that you’ve heard that has some fresh new sounds as well. Let’s dive into what makes Can’t Stay Here such a good new album.
“Hell Raising Habit” starts the album off right with some soaring steel guitar and a sound that feels like it could have been written in the mid 20th century. The lyrics are gritty, but relatable. The overall sound is sure to put listeners in mind of the classic intersection of rock and blues elements with classic country.
The title track “Can’t Stay Here” has a moving rhythmic quality, a fantastic fiddle, and a straightforward lead vocal. If you’d ever been in one of those moments in life where you know you can’t stay where you are, the lyrics will relatable. The lead vocal melodic pattern feels like a harkening back to the early days of country music with phrasing that would make even old Jimmie Rodgers proud.
“Shine” has a careful, almost poetic style to it. The vocal sounds like the bluesy expression of a country artist who has been at it for a long time. The easy going two step rhythm definitely connects for fans of classic country. Right in the middle of the album, “Think I’ll Just Sing” has a unique, gritty, almost romantic description of life on the road. It’s got a vibe that reminds me a little of the country narrative form of artists like Charlie Daniels, expressing the true outsider mentality of classic country artists. It’s about drinking and touring, singing music in dive bars across the country. The steel guitar really makes this one pop.
The seventh track is “Same Ol’ Waltz,” an homage to the slowed down two step country song. The guitars pull some heavy weight on this one. If you ever doubted the relationship between country and blues, listen to the way this song cries. It’s a beautiful, expressive, fascinating song. “It’ll never feel like the first time we fell in love.” Wow. This is easily the best pure country songwriting on the album.
Overall, the album has some real rip-roaring tracks and a few that slow it down. In some ways, it captures a lot of what made 20th century country music so great. It’s a shame this kind of gritty, salt-of-the-earth music isn’t on “country” radio anymore. I’ve been impressed by the versatility of the Smith and Tegio sound. Hopefully others will enjoy this sonic tour of 20th century American music influences.
Image courtesy: Abby Clayden Garner Photography
*Reviewed with support from SubmitHub
Discover more from Ear To The Ground Music
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
