Songs of the Plains
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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Wall’s songwriting is as stark as it comes: his plain-speaking manner is delivered in a slow, melancholy drawl that paints him as some lonely cowboy.
80
On his terrific sophomore record, Wall paints a portrait of a mythic Canadiana, a western region of lonesome plains and grizzled frontiersmen, of rodeos and gunfighters, of hardscrabble existences and unlucky bounces.
76
With his husky, sensitive baritone, this son of Canada’s Prairie Provinces mixes the tales of modern and historic wanderers on his second sterling album of traditional folk and country.
75
Songs of the Plains is an impressive, lean and mean follow-up to Wall’s self-titled breakthrough, building on the promise contained in the latter and unapologetically following his influences into the sunset, prevailing trends be damned.
70
The set walks a fine line with its retro-fetishism, but it manages to dodge hokey-ness thanks to Wall’s great voice, a low-key delivery, and invitingly haunted backdrops.
70
Colter Wall captures a long-forgotten time and place, keeping the cowboy folklore alive by reminding us that poignant songs sung by a superb singer will never sound outdated.
Sounding like a cowboy from the late 19th century who's been smoking cigarettes since his youth. With these 11 songs it's easy to see why some have been raving about this 23 yo for awhile now...
Bleak songs, stark arrangements. This is timeless music. As we all take part in the general absurdity of life in 2018, its really something else that a Canadian dude who moved down to Nashville is making music like this. It would be easy to dismiss this, but I can't do that when the man sounds so ... read more
Bleak songs, stark arrangements. This is timeless music. As we all take part in the general absurdity of life in 2018, its really something else that a Canadian dude who moved down to Nashville is making music like this. It would be easy to dismiss this, but I can't do that when the man sounds so ... read more
This is nothing new stylistically but the way the smooth western compositions give shine to Colter Wall's broody vocal and sweet picturesque lyricism is something I can always get behind if the quality is there. On Songs of the Plains it certainly is.
Wall has crafted a rattling rendition of what's considered classic country. Vast dustiness is elevated with a gruff edge with the range that Wall is able to hit with his vocals. We are reminded constantly of the country classics of old Nelson's Red Headed Stranger and Robbins' Gunfighter Ballads, both of which show exactly what country is and should be, envoirmental tails of Western culture.
Colter's use of brisk wide palette of saloon esque instrumentation makes room for a background breeze ... read more
Colter's use of brisk wide palette of saloon esque instrumentation makes room for a background breeze ... read more
They don't make 'em like this anymore right?
Part of me wants to distrust the authenticity of Colter Wall's whole aesthetic...but he's a great enough song writer you end up not caring.
Part of me wants to distrust the authenticity of Colter Wall's whole aesthetic...but he's a great enough song writer you end up not caring.
This is an amazing album. Country music is so watered-down...but thankfully...when someone REAL comes along...they stick out. Colter Wall is a son of the Van Zandts...the Billy Joe Shavers...I love this album and we need more of the same.
Well done!
Well done!
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Year End Lists
| #6 | / | The Independent |
| #14 | / | Vinyl Me, Please |
| #21 | / | American Songwriter |
| #26 | / | Digital Trends |
| / | Glide |
MISC LISTS
| #39 | / | Rolling Stone (Country & Americana) |
| / | The A.V. Club (Country) |
Track List
- Plain to See Plainsman
- Saskatchewan in 1881
- John Beyers (Camaro Song)
- Wild Dogs
- Calgary Round-Up
- Night Herding Song
- Wild Bill Hickok
- The Trains Are Gone
- Thinkin' on a Woman
- Manitoba Man
- Tying Knots in the Devil's Tail
In Library (14)
Added on: September 12, 2018
