Alright so last week I had a work trip out to Vegas. It was very successful and a damn good time but, also incredibly busy, so I didn’t get to write or post near as much as I’d like. I was getting ready to call it a night a little while ago when I figured I better get back to some Westbound Soul. During lunch today a Dalton Domino track came across a Texas Country playlist I was listening to and I decided to give him a closer listen. So here we are.
The idea is pretty simple. I’m listening to this album, many of the tracks for the first time, while I’m typing this. I’ll write my thoughts, or review if you will, of the album as I encounter each note in real time. My “media player” of choice this evening is a UE Roll (pictured below), which doesn’t get near as much love as it should for the trooper that thing has proven to be.
Oh and one other thing. My listening experience is being aided, arguably altered, by one of my favorite Texas made spirits. This audio-enhancer is Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, distilled and bottled in Hye, TX. One of my closest buddies has worked out there for several years and, one of these days, I’m going to do a full write up on their stuff. But for now just know that it’s damn good whiskey and it’s real bourbon, none of this blended crap pretending to be something it only dreams of. So, James, this write up is for you, since you’ve helped me come to enjoy, appreciate, and understand whiskey over the last few years.
Research tells me that “Corners” was released about a year ago, so it’s possible a new album isn’t far out, but this is my first time giving it a good run through. Now the first track, “The River”, was not what I was expecting based on what I’ve heard from Domino in the past, but I’ve got to say it gave the album opening a mysterious and almost ominous feel. Lots of instrumentals, minor chords, and eventual vocals sung in a sort of hushed tone that aids the overall ominous mood.
While texting a buddy today about Dalton Domino is described him as a rugged Wade Bowen and I’m prepared to standby that claim. The two are pretty similar vocally but Domino’s got a little more edginess to his sound. Corners’ title track is a well written tune that I think many young people can probably relate to about the the mistakes, challenges, and changes you face on your way to finding out who you are. Don’t believe me? Check it out below.
The album’s got a good mix of up tempo and slower songs, which seems like a “duh” statement to make, but a lot of albums I’ve listened to are guilty of taking a singular tone across the entire track list. It’s nice to have a little variation in there. Hell “More Than You” has a Lyle Lovett vibe to it with a big band sound in the background and some top notch vocals on backup.
I can’t say enough for songwriters who can tell a good story and Domino is one of those guys. If you think about it, he’s only got 3ish minutes to paint a picture and he does a damn good job of it in that time. From a story about making mistakes on his way to becoming a man, to a girl caught two timing, to terrible heartache likened to a tornado, Domino has a knack for providing vivid imagery to accompany his songs.
Favorite 3 tracks:
Rain
More Than You
Corners (nearly went with “July” here, but my choice just rings a little more true personally)
According to his tour dates, Domino is going to be busy and all over the place for the next couple of months, so make sure you head over there to check it out and catch a show if he plays nearby. This weekend he’ll be in my neck of the woods, as luck would have it, at Conway’s in New Braunfels (pictured above), so I’ll see you there. So if you’re looking for some new tunes, I urge you to go pick up this album. You won’t regret it.
Questions or comments about “Corners”, Dalton Domino, or Texas music in general? Social media will get you a damn-near immediate response, so contact us on twitter or instagram @westboundsoul or leave a comment below.
