The Alternate Root - Discover Roots & Americana Music
  • Home
  • Top Ten
  • It's All Music Radio
  • Latest Videos
  • All Reviews
  • Breaking Thru
  • Who's Playing Near Me?
  • Seen & Heard
    • Advertise With Us
    • Removal of Content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Top 50 Albums 2022
  • Top Ten
The Category Navigation Widget will appear here on the live site.

The Alternate Root

Listen To Our Top 10

All Reviews archive

Brought to You From Our Alt Root Writers

The Breadcrumbs Widget will appear here on the live site.

8/20/2022

0 Comments

 

​Vandoliers from The Vandoliers

Picture
​Vandoliers (from The Vandoliers available on Amerikinda Records/Soundly Music) (By Lee Zimmerman)
 
Like most artists and ensembles who can claim the great state of Texas as their home environs, Vandoliers are a sturdy, sure-footed outfit flush with drive, determination, and deliberation. It’s that confidence which is most assuredly revealed in their new, self-titled opus which easily qualifies as one of the high points of their ever-evolving career. A brash and bold manifesto, it rings with a defiance and independence that resonates from practically every offering. Recorded during the plague of the pandemic, it represents a sudden shift in the band’s original intent, but one which makes a strong statement regardless.

That’s immediately evident on album opener “The Lighthouse”, which suddenly explodes with a sonic shout-out that literally leaps out of the speakers. The songs that follow — the joyful “Every Saturday Night”, the dazzling, double-time “Bless Your Drunken Heart”, a rousing “Down and Out”, the sway and swagger of “I Hope Your Heartache’s a Hit”, and the steady stride taken on “Steer Me Wrong” echo that exuberance with both passion and purpose. Taken in tandem, it’s an exhilarating effort from the start to the very end. 
 
Much of that is due to the assertive arrangements, which utilize fiddles, mariachi horns, and, of course, the riveting dynamic of a sturdy rocking and rollicking core combo. Yet, that vibrant approach is embedded within sentiments that remain at the core of each of these compositions, absolutely ensuring a compelling experience overall.
 
At the heart of it all is a knowing group of musicians who have the ability and wherewithal to carry the sound to a higher level of verve and virtuosity. The energy never falters, and even when they parlay a self-effacing interlude like the tipsy “Too Drunk to Drink” or the album’s good ‘ole boy down-home closer, “Wise County Friday Night”, the humor and happenstance find a fit within the overall Vandoliers vibe.

Suffice it to say, an excellent album by any other name wouldn’t come close to being half as cool. (By Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Vandoliers from AMAZON
For more information and purchase options, please visit Vandoliers website
 

The Blog Tags widget will appear here on the published site.
Tags:
0 Comments
The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.

You Might Also Like

First Last



Leave a Reply.

Picture

    subscribe to our newsletter

Submit

To submit music, please mail a copy of your CD to the following address:
Danny McCloskey
The Alternate Root
1717 East Vista Chino
Ste A7 PMB 302
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Contact Us

    we do not share email addresses

Submit

©2021 The Alternate Root All Rights Reserved
website by Jim Cortez jctez12@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Top Ten
  • It's All Music Radio
  • Latest Videos
  • All Reviews
  • Breaking Thru
  • Who's Playing Near Me?
  • Seen & Heard
    • Advertise With Us
    • Removal of Content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Top 50 Albums 2022
  • Top Ten