I really should break out the atlas and figure out if Portland Oregon – home of The James Low Western Front – is anywhere near Nashville. I would, however, hazard a guess that, from the evidence provided by their album “Whiskey farmer”, that they are actually city boys with a yearning for simpler times.
In less time than it takes to change that white collar for a blue collar, The James Low Western Front set off on an earnest journey through country and folk rock territory whilst reflecting on traditional themes for lyrical inspiration. With that in mind, it is no surprise that there are elements of pure Nashville – well, the seen it all Nashville sentimentality of, say, Doug DeJoe and The Bloomlaters anyway – to be found in the title track and, indeed, “The Star Don’t Care”. Similarly, “Sleep It Off” sounds just like the kind of song that Jerry Reed would have adopted back in the day which, by the way, is actually a compliment.
It also seems clear that “Whiskey Farmer” is more than the affectionate pastiche of things country that first impressions would suggest and James Low, in taking the world weary and sometimes near laconic approach to his vocals, has turned each song into an antidote to the anodyne Americana that is so often forced upon us in the name of tradition.
The album is available from Bandcamp.