JOE WEST hails from Sante Fe, New Mexico and produces music that is steeped in the smells of cowboy bars, heat, dust, and the exploits of people living marginalised lives through hardship, lifestyle choices or sheer bloody recklessness.
There's a western swing, a tex-mex shimmy and a southern groove that bear lyrics written in observational poetry akin to
those of say Lou Reed or Loudon Wainwright. Other reference points could be Gordon Gano and The Violent Femmes (particularly 'Trotsky's Blues' and 'Straight Man In A Gay World') and Neil Young ('Jam Bands In Colerado').But ultimately, however you try to bracket this album each new track comes along to defy your efforts.
Fact is, Joe West is an original talent who has produced an album that starts with the wonderful 'The Combines Are Coming' and doesn't let up until the final fading notes of 'Heaven' some 50 minutes later. Bruised song-writing and affectionate story-telling prevail throughout, introducing us to characters like 'Jimmy Joe The Wrangler', 'Anita Pita' and the un-named 'Human Cannonball', wooing us with beautifully told tales of arson, drugs, infidelity, murder, fame, cheap cars and hoovering!
The afore-mentioned 'Combines' is a fantastic, gentle acoustic shuffle with acerbic lyrics and cheese-wire sharp lead guitar, running into 'Oklahoma Bound' with its tangle of banjo notes - like vicious barb-wire waiting to ensnare you - and its strange, almost Eastern European feel.
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The title track is a beautiful, sad tale of lost love and circus sideshows complete with sound effects and a drifting, mournful accordion. Similarly 'Banker's Son' is a gentle waltz oozing hopelessness amongst small town ambition. Highlights though are 'Jimmy Joe.', a tale of a "Filipino queen" and his run in with homophobic rednecks that swings along like a Texan 'Walk On
The Wild Side' and 'Cowgirl Hall Of Fame' with its opening lyrical salvo "She was a small breasted beauty / claims she had nothing to prove / she'd been to The Guggenheim, she'd been to The Louvre / She had a long list of lovers / bought her many things / one was Billy The Kid, one was Billie Jean King".
Presently touring the UK as The Joe West Trio, if appearing near you, it's a gig I'd strongly recommend you get along to. The idea of these songs delivered live is tantalising beyond belief.
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