Feeling no pain at all.
Recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornilo, Texas, Casper McWade brings us “Something for the Pain” a ten song collection of outlaw country produced by his good friend Cody Jinks (Josh Thompson).
The album opens with the single ‘Songs I Can’t Write’ co-written by Bryan Martin which takes us on the road and highlights the issues touring musicians have balancing any life outside of music with life on the road. McWade sings “Traded my family for an old pawn shop guitar and a broken home” in a stomping good opener.
Track two ‘The Cliff’ starts as if we are joining Darius Rucker and his ‘Wagon Wheel’ but quickly morphs into the stand-out tracks on the album. The issue of a one side relationship which could be personal or even professional. McWade’s lyrics are full of imagery as he sings, “You only dance around the fire just to bitch about the flames” and “If I could I’d give it back and go back to being nothing” culminating with “You wonder why I have always got one foot hanging over the edge”
The album has such a strong opening you feel that at any time this is going to dip but you hardly have time to process one story before another equally as good comes along. ‘Silver Cross’ is a beautiful song which slows the mood down perfectly. A tale of wanting the one you can’t or shouldn’t have. McWade’s vocals are superb and portray the subject matter perfectly. ‘Tonight’, the second single from the album after ‘Songs I Can’t Write’ is a classic country song of love lost, memories and a second chance as McWade tells us “Tonight I’ve found the reason to hold on”.
The playing on the album is exceptionally good with members of Cody Jink’s band joining McWade. There are some excellent fiddle and steel guitar which give a stunning backdrop to this fine collection. Bordering on mainstream but with a gritty underlying edge. If you like your outlaw country then there is enough here to make you want to discover more of McWade’s catalogue. Share the pain, this is something that will help.
