Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Glenn Yoder & The Western States - Javelina (2013)


No Depression magazine take notice! Glenn Yoder and the Western States may have just made one of the finest alt-country albums of 2013.

If you've never heard of Glenn Yoder, to give you some background, he played in a band called Cassavettes which garnered quite a bit of attention in the Boston area. They opened for tons of well known bands, were voted "Best Local Act" in The Boston Phoenix Readers Poll, and even won a Boston Music Award for "Best Americana Act".

Now fast forward to 2013, Javelina is the 2nd album Glenn has released as a solo artist and without question, his best work yet. This creepy backwoods beast of a record, is full of huge pop hooks, muscular Drive-By Truckers style rock, and much more. Yoder's songwriting has never been sharper, and his voice never stronger and more confident. The Western States are equally as impressive and sound as though they were born to play in this band. And don't let me forget, the production. The team of Jeremy Moses Curtis and David Minehan (who is also featured in the new Replacements documentary) cannot be underestimated.

The first half of this album screams radio play. "Everything You Want" and "Younger Brother" offer  infectious choruses that are exactly what country pop should be. My favorite song on the album is definitely "Row"(80% because it's damn good song with inspiring lyrics; and 20% because there just aren't enough songs that mention rowing). For some reason (perhaps I'm an old pervert), whenever I hear "Just Want You to Love Me" (my pick for lead-off single), I picture swarms of fist pumping, starry eyed college freshmen girls singing along.

The second half gets a little spookier and jammier. Yoder seems to dig up the ghost of Mark Sandman on vocals for the excellent - "Messing with My Head" which also includes some ace playing from the rhythm section of Cilla Bonnie on bass, and Josh Kiggans on drums. While Jeff Katz (Three Day Threshold) showcases some mean guitar on the 6 minute "Not That Man for You".

There are quite a few more highlights ("Pretty Little Girl", "Loraine", "Like a Radio Song", and "Once in My Lifetime"), but it might be best if you just take a listen for yourself, and before doing so, raise your shot glasses high, and make a toast to JavelinaaaaaaaAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!.

The album is currently available for download at a very affordable "name your price" special at:


 out of 5 ears



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