'High on Tulsa Heat', well you will be high on John Moreland's brand of Americana that’s for sure after listening to his third album. Like a crossover of Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams and Steve Earle this guy has a bag full of lyrics and stories to get into your head.
The album was released in April via Thirty Tigers and I stumbled on it via emusic.com, when browsing, and oh my, what a discovery.The record was self-produced and includes a band of John Moreland: vocals, guitars, bass guitar, drums, percussion, John Calvin Abney III: guitars, wurlitzer piano, organ, harmonica, Jared Tyler: dobro, Jesse Aycock: pedal steel, Chris Foster: upright bass, Kierston White: backup vocals and Camille Harp: backup vocals.
That's quite a sizable musical contribution but, it does not make for a 'big' sound on the record, far from it, this is an achingly intimate and beautiful album. Tulsa, Oklahoma sounds like if could be a vast desolate place on its outskirts. 'Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars' is the opening song, "meet me where I land if I slip and fall too far", "this life make you cold and leave you mad make you homesick for a home you never had" and those sentiments set the scene.
There are some completely outstanding songs on the album, Cleveland County Blues, "My baby is a tornado in the endless Oklahoma sky, spinning devastation and singing me a lullaby", Sad Baptist Rain and Cherokee, “I guess I’ve got a taste for poison, I’ve given up on ever being well and I keep mining the horizon, digging for lies I’ve yet to tell.”
The album is in full band and best Americana rock mode on closer and title track 'High on Tulsa Heat'. A song for the bar, with beer in hand.
Not sure if John has ever toured in the UK, there are no future dates listed but any promoters out there, listen up and get this guy over here! Perhaps a joint tour with RM Hubbert would just be perfect!
Pete
11/11
Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars
Heart's Too Heavy
Cleveland County Blues
White Flag
Sad Baptist Rain
Cherokee
Losing Sleep Tonight
American Flags in Black & White
You Don't Care for Me Enough to Cry
High on Tulsa Heat