Monday, June 12, 2017

LP Review: "Tales of the Wicked West" by Maidavale

Tales of the Wicked West
There are times when our conversations yield some interesting omens.

Not two hours before this record began playing, my friend and I were knee deep in a conversation about rich rock stars and how as they age, the can become giant douches.

One in particular, whom I won't name, is very popular. He's been around for over 30 years in the sphere of popular, and mostly, quality music.

For the past 15 or so (HERE COMES LARGE SWATHS OF OPINION),  he's tried so desperately to be the second coming of Jimi Hendrix with his tales of love and such.

The problem is, as he grew up in an almost idyllic childhood in a virtual paradise, it's hard to see his claims as valid, unlike Jimi's as he grew up seeing the actual horror of life. It's kind of like the Spanish Inquisition, your confessions aren't genuine without torture.

Maidavale
Now, let's swing back to Tales of the Wicked West. This is another re-release by The Sign Records.

The first thing I heard was this huge, billowing, guitar riff that immediately swung me back to Jimi Hendrix.

There's certainly a significant Jimi influence here, but it's not close to copycatting him. This is a bouncier record with a powerful, somewhat shrill vocal.

It's important to know what you have to do get above the din and the vocal delivery does just that when it's required. There are also times when the music bounces around the vocals giving us acapella phrasing.

Tales of the Wicked West certainly has a foot in the past, but it's facing the future. It's nearly as common as seeing a standard Welsh Jackalope in the Southeastern Appalachians to have a band that is so able to mind meld the Gilded Era of Rock with what's going on right now.

Metal guitar lines played through an arena rock filter share soundspace with pyschedelic licks that will easily expand your mind.

Let's not forget the thought provoking lyrics that are swirled in an around this disc. Tales of the Wicked West is even rounded out by a ten minute long instrumental.

In short, it pretty much has everything.

Release: 6/30/17
Genre: Psychedelic
Label: The Sign Records
Formats: LP/CD/Digital
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