REVIEW: TYLER CHILDERS – PURGATORY (2018)

Published:

Warts and all debut. Anything but Child-ers play 

In an interview surrounding “Purgatory”, Tyler Childers spoke about his debut album thus: “I was writing an album about being in the mountains, I wanted it to have that gritty mountain sound. But at the same time, I wanted a more modern version of it that a younger generation can listen to—the people I grew up with, something I’d want to listen to.”

The way he’s managed that is quite astonishing, but it is entirely encapsulated in the first few lines of first song, “I Swear (To God)”. Over what you might term a “classic country shuffle” he sings this: “I only had a couple of drinks last night, and a few good hits from the end of the pipe, and I must admit I had a few white lines and I don’t know what all happened.”

Nothing sums him up better than this. Classic country with a modern, raw twist, this is not easy listening, nor is it the type of lovey-dovey stuff that might have been on one of those Elvis Country compilations from when you were a kid. This is rooted in the now.

Only Childers knows whether this is autobiographical or not. It certainly feels like there’s an attention to detail about work like Feathered Indians”. Again – as in the opener – it’s about the first line. “My buckle makes impressions on the inside of her thigh” is followed by the thought “If I’d known she was religious I wouldn’t have come stoned….” and it’s those type of small details that permeate and so inform his brilliant songwriting.

The bleak and superb “Tattoos” is another highpoint, while the fact that this album was made with Sturgill Simpson becomes crystal clear on “Born Again” as his stamp is all over this.

The rabble is duly roused on “Whitehouse Road”, a rather unapologetic delve into teenage rebellion, and whilst this one in particular is still rooted in country, it knows its way around southern rock too. “Bearded Clovis” builds along a military drum beat, and the lyrics here are again those of a born storyteller in the Steve Earle mode.

It is perhaps telling that the title track is a real bluegrass hoedown, as if it is a deliberate homage to the past, and “Honky Tonk Flame” is appropriately named, but even here the lead guitar does things on its own terms.

Before the end there is perhaps a hint that Childers has much more to do with his career as it goes on. “Universal Sound” is the sort of brooding rocker that Brian Fallon has made his own, while it is perhaps more than anything, the last track that convinces that he is a truly special talent. “Lady May” is a simple – and simply gorgeous – song about his wife. It almost brings him back full circle.

Viewed in that context “Purgatory” is the tale of a journey from the drink and drugs of the opener to the love and content of the last track. All of which means that at the age of 26 Tyler Childers has done more in 10 songs than some would manage on 10 albums.

Rating 8.5/10

 

More From Author

spot_img

Popular Posts

Latest Gig Reviews

Latest Music Reviews

spot_img

Band Of The Day