Assuming that Tokyo is the face on the front cover, all hooded and sporting a goatee, I'm wondering what I'm in for. Looking like a cross between Rasputin and John from the Saw films, I'm expecting something a little more industrial than is actually to be found on the CD
Make no mistake – this is country. The main guitar is acoustic, the fiddles and banjos are out in force and Tokyo's voice is upfront and mournful just like a coyote out on the plains. But he’s more than just a one trick pony, Tokyo can throw in some left turns to catch out the casual listener like the Dave Brubeck meets Jethro Tull jazzy flute solo to a 5/4 beat on “Feeling Don't Know Any Age” or the calypso feel on the title track, which isn't a million miles away from Neil Diamond. Other songs include “Mister, Tell Me About The Great Depression”, which uses a fuller band sound than elsewhere on the CD to create a powerful 100 ton convoy of a track and the more playful “I Can't Read Ya” - think hippy pop meets Canned Heat. The only low spot is the opening track “Inside Your Skull” which is a naff slice of rock and roll that sounds like a discarded demo form the Rocky Horror Show. In a strange way even this is authentic country – Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson always came up short when they tried to be Elvis too.
The lyrics can be on the downbeat side so maybe the introspective cover picture is appropriate after all. Emo-Country?
Available from CD Baby.