If you’re a fan of Americana as a general category, you’ll find a lot to like in this new EP from Jason Lenyer Buchanan. It’s got classic guitar-based instrumentation and some timeless lyrical themes. Fans of early 90s country music will find a lot to like about the overall sound.
The opening track “If the Creek Don’t Rise” is an old time country saying about the ultimate consolation… I’ll do it “if the creek don’t rise” and I can get there. For folks who live around creeks and rivers that flood regularly, this is a sentiment that rings true. “I’ll be there if I can” is the underlying concept. Buchanan makes some allusions to the other half of this common phrase, though, “If the Good Lord’s willing… and the creek don’t rise.” This spiritual element is connected to the classic gospel roots of Americana and country, a perfect introduction to the album’s sound.
“These Thirty Acres” is a narrative style about landed poverty, a theme that a lot of us can connect with. Families who somehow earned or bought land generations ago. This song does a nice job of blending nostalgia with the hopelessness that can far-too-often follow this level of poverty. The storytelling is reminiscent of Jason Isbell and similar contemporary Americana artists with its emotional tug. The balance between the sincere vocal and the fiddle is particularly strong on this one.
“Sometimes” is a calm acoustic tune that captures the spirit of traditional folk music, while allowing for some orchestral elements that make it feel a bit more artful. The first line, “sometimes I feel like I can touch the moon” is so powerful, an opening to the imagination of the piece and, by extension, the artist. The line about the mountains and the rising sun feels just wonderful. It’s artful, poetic, and definitely worth many listens. There are layers of meaning here.
The title track “Under a Thumbnail Moon” has a solid rhythm section with a standup bass propelling the sound along nicely. There’s a bit more rasp in the lead vocal on this one, pulling the listener in like sitting down to listen to an old friend tell a story. There are some surprising chord elements that make it feel a bit more experimental and dare I say ~ jazzy ~ about this one.
“Better Parts of Texas” has a bright energy and is the song that is why I said “yes” to covering this album. The lyrical theme is good and the vocal reminds me a lot of Isbell. I appreciate the phrasing and overall composition on it, but what really won it for me… was the hat tip to “deep in the heart of Texas.” It’s clever, well integrated, and powerful. To indicate how much Iike the song, I stopped writing in the middle of the review to go and share this with two of my favorite Texans. It’s that good!
The final track “The Aisle” does a great job of landing the album. It’s calm, with a piano-driven sound and Buchanan’s solid vocal performance. It’s contemplative and easy, yet holds just as much emotional energy as other tracks on the album. But this one is about marriage… the challenges and joys altogether. I love how the chord shifts capture the contemplative elements of marriage and deep relationship. This is also why I insist this album is Americana and not clearly folk or country. This song defies genre in the best way.
I’m really glad to get to experience this album and hope that folks will spin it. Buchanan’s songwriting is good already, but I look forward to watching his development in the coming years. These narratives and storytelling arcs are well worth consideration.
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