Two decades in, The Band of Heathens deliver 11 songs rooted in Texas americana.
Country Sides is the latest album from DIY Austin country rockers Band of Heathens. It sees them 20 years into their career and built around the two remaining founder members Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist who have led the band from the bars of their hometown to being a significant draw on the touring circuit. Recording and releasing their albums via their own label they can genuinely justify an indie label.
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, Quist says “We’re grateful to be 20 years into this and to have a fan base that has hopped on the creative journey with us wherever we have decided to turn. We’ve always felt like outsiders on an island, without the muscle of a major label, we just focused on making organic music that resonates with us”.
Country Sides was tracked in just over a week at the band’s studio The Finishing School and self-produced. The Band of Heathens comprises Jurdi and Quist (both on vocals and guitars), Geoff Queen (pedal steel), Trever Jealon (keyboards, vocals), Nick Jay (bass, vocals) and Clint Simmons (drums, percussion, vocals).
The overall feel of the album is that of a band comfortable as themselves building a groove of country rock trending into country soul.
The opener No Direction kicks in with a notable beat and a slightly hoedown feel. The chorus cleverly navigates the points of the compass in each line concluding “But I’ve got no direction if I can’t call you mine”. It has all the hallmarks of a mighty singalong in concert. The second track, High On Our Own Supply, definitely swings to the soul end of their spectrum with some sweet organ. The highlight of She’s The Night is Queen’s pedal steel which sweeps through verses, chorus and bridge adding a touch of moonlight to the tale of nocturnal flight.
Another R&B-tinged vocal takes Lead Don’t Follow along the way of its celebration of controlling your own destiny. There’s more than a hint of early Van Morrison in the sound. Forever’s Not A Long Time is probably the weakest song on Side 1- the sort of song that would be over on the radio before you realise it’s started. The side closer Finish Something I Started is some way sadder than the title would have you believe. It’s falsetto chorus “I’ve been trying to finish something I started / But my heart isn’t in it, my heart isn’t in it” is a bit of downer but the electric piano really sets tge 1970’s soul sound up nicely.
Flipping the record, side two opens with Pleasing People, a slower tempo country rock song with the vocalist contemplating the challenges of pleasing people and the risk of doing it your own expense. Good As I Can Be is a classic narrator striving to be their best; a sentiment most of us can relate to; lyrically, there are a couple of comic moments – possibly intentionally. Take The Cake rocks in with a fine-sounding slide guitar and a mix of electric piano and organ from Jealon.
Just As Much introduces itself with a bouncy bass line soon joined by the pedal steel and electric piano before the drums and vocals drop in for the first verse The bass is a feature throughout the song and sets it apart on the record. The album’s closing track, Letting Go is about acceptance and the acknowledgement that, sometimes, despite one’s best efforts, it’s time to let go. In some ways it seems like quite a downbeat way to end the record but there’s also a sense of getting out from under and the liberation of moving on.
Country Sides is a mature record which sees The Band of Heathens doing what they do well, although it’s hard to see them making many new converts.
