Queen of the Brawl is an album that reminds us that all music is a journey from the sounds of the past to the sonic possibilities of the future, and such changes come as a result of gradual evolution more often than sudden revolution. And here, Clarence Tilton moves effortlessly between one and the other, blending both timeless, familiar country sounds with forward-thinking, fresh roots-rock potential. Not so much the sound of a genre in transition, genres are always in transition, but the sound of music moving forward at its own, chosen pace.
And, if the music found here is the sound of things gently moving forward, the narratives and thoughts in the lyrics are also about people’s lives and the land around them moving through time, and also perhaps stuck in its past.
“Flyaway Cafe” is a love letter to small-town America, a duet with Presley Tucker soaked in early rock and roll twang. The two vocalists exchange thoughts on leaving such places and heading for somewhere new. “
“Bongos” is a fired-up country groover, a blend of energy and euphoric sounds that speaks as much through its music as it does the lyrics about the free-wheeling life, “Like A Rolling Stone” recast for the modern alt-country set. “St Joseph” is the recollection of sneaking into the local chapel to play Allman Brothers’ tunes on the organ, a band whose sound has worked its way into the DNA of the song and the album ends on a serene and seductive, balladic waltz in the form of “Our Love Rings True.”
Whether you are a fan of country traditions or modern sonic adventure, are happy on your comfort zones, or are looking for music that pushes into a bright new rootsy future, Queen of the Brawl has everything you could possibly want.
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