The band name suggests a mix of thriftiness and holiness; a striving towards a way out of poverty and a way towards spiritual redemption. But if it’s music for a brighter, more optimistic future you are looking for, you won’t find much to give hope in this set of tunes.
The Pawn Shop Saints were formed by songwriter Jeb Barry in 2012 and are based in New England. Under his direction, they specialise in dark Americana songs about marginalized characters.
This album comprises 45 of them recorded between late March and August 2023 as a spontaneous undertaking. Some of the tunes are a couple of decades old, others are brand new.
Barry is realistic about how such a daunting collection will be received: Yeah, we know, we don’t have the musical prestige to expect anyone to listen to all of these songs…so pick a couple and see what you get.”
The two that are flagged as tasters on Soundcloud are California and Empty Ohio Highway. These give a fair representation of the mood and subject matter.
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There are an above average number of songs named after places or travelling which give a sense of them having been conceived on the road. For example we have Liverpool,Ohio,Alabama Truck Stop and Just Another Song About Texas. The content of these is universally bleak especially in Suburbs where we hear about kids who keep on dying.
The title Carnival Ride gave me hope of some cheerier content but it ends up being another song about life’s ups and downs (principally the latter).
The mainly lo-fi production values denote a rough and ready flavour. I’d venture that higher quality control would be preferable to a focus on the excessive quantity. Some light amid the dark wouldn’t go amiss either.
Pawn Shop Saints’ website
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