Big band sound from Joe Hooten’s Tin Roof Echo in collaboration with producer Kevin Boggs.
Tin Roof Echo is the artist styling of Joe Hooten, originally from Macon, Georgia, but for almost 20 years based in Asheville, North Carolina. Hooten characterises his six earlier albums as featuring his “DIY recording style”, but his new release is a full band and big production venture, a collaboration with musician and producer Kevin Boggs.
Opening track ‘Everything That’s Green’ sets the tone for the album, a lush and rich arrangement building quickly from acoustic guitar to full band with pedal steel and banjo adding country and roots elements to a powerful track, driven by Hooten’s urgent vocal, with rapid-fire delivery reminiscent of Willie Nile in the verses.
‘Cloudy Day’ has a memorable anthemic refrain, with backing vocals taking us musically to the West Coast over that full band sound “I walked the mile in my shoes/ I swam the ocean with nothing to lose/ I drive to work its the same old news/ Cause its…its gonna be a cloudy day.”
Supporting Hooten on guitar and vocals are Kevin Boggs (drums, guitars, bass) of Doc Aquatic, Fashion Bath, Matthew Smith (pedal steel, dobro) of Amy Ray Band, Amanda Platt & Honeycutters, Graham Sharp (banjo) of Steep Canyon Rangers, Jay Gonzalez (B3, saw) of Drive-By Truckers, Dulci Ellenberger (vocals) of FWUIT, Cowboy Judy, Moves, and David Childers (vocals) .
‘The Land of Apathy’ is a timely contribution to political debate in the USA, with an old school protest song vibe, with a shuffle beat and prominent banjo, Hooten singing “We go out into the world to do some good/ We tell ourselves, “This is the land of the free!”/ We go out and act like all the things we do and that they matter/ But they don’t/ Is this the land of apathy?” before concluding with a call to action “Well what can I say and what I can I do?/ Well, I guess it’s all up to you!/ So let’s all go and do the right thing.”
Striking a more personal note, ‘Sick About It’ is an anthem to communication breakdown, up-tempo with B3 organ and driving guitar riffs “I’m nothing like you/ And you’re nothing like me/ We’re climbing the walls, and best of all/ now I’m free.”
Smith’s pedal steel features prominently throughout, notably on mid-tempo ‘Space 4 U and Me’, a plea for hope of finding common ground in a relationship “Yeah I’m still believing though it seems so distant now/ Caught between the life I have and the one I want with you/ Maybe I’m just dreaming, but swear I’ve seen it too/ Somewhere, there’s a place for me and you”.
These are big arrangements with Americana flavours and well-crafted lyrics make for a rewarding listen.
This is a great album. A “7” is a bit harsh methinks.