BRADLEY WEST: Slow Train

Bradley West

Slow Train

© 2007 Freedom Tracks Music ASCAP (634479515484)

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Traditional country music with a relevant, modern message.

notes

Like many of the best surprises in life, Bradley West first came to my attention by accident of circumstance through a mutual acquaintance. But from the moment I first saw and heard him perform, I knew there is something unique and special about this emerging young artist. A recent performance at the famous “Tootsies Orchid Lounge” in Nashville underscored this first impression when, as soon as Bradley began performing, patrons from both the lower and upper lounge areas began to leave their seats and move up to stand at the front of the upper lounge stage, where they could get a better glimpse of an obvious rising star.

Bradley was born on July 9th, 1987 and raised in West Memphis and Marion, Arkansas. According to his family, he first learned to talk by singing and first sang on a stage at age two. Growing up studying various books and encyclopedias about the roots of country music, Bradley became a true fan and admirer of Hank Williams, Sr., George Jones, Randy Travis, George Strait and other traditional country music legends. His own vocal and performance style, although unique, reflects this well-grounded country roots tradition.

Unlike many younger modern country artists, Bradley likes to perform songs with “meat” on them, songs that stand up for the common men and women of America and have something to say about what both positively and negatively affects hard working, financially struggling working folks. He has performed all over the Arkansas, Tennessee and surrounding areas, including annually at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and at various county fairs, festivals, clubs and other venues. Over the past few years, Bradley has picked up a significant local following in the Memphis, Arkansas area and has performed and been interviewed on several radio and television programs.

Bradley selected all of the songs on this debut collection himself and is a co-writer on two of them. Although he left the music for studio musicians to perform on this debut collection, he plays several instruments, including guitar, fiddle and harmonica. Bradley is currently pursuing a college education, as well as actively involved performing several times per month. In his spare time, he likes to socialize with friends, fish, read and write songs. Bradley West is a particularly well-grounded and dedicated young artist and he is one of the few and far between whose future truly envisions unlimited potential.

--Richard Aberdeen, February, 2007
Freedom Tracks Records
www.FreedomTracks.com

reviews

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  • SLOW TRAIN
    author: JMC

    Great Country Music album which I enjoyed it, my favorite songs are THESE DAYS and WILLIE´S SONG but the complete cd is nice, Thanks so much BRAD

  • Slow Train
    author: charlieb

    Great country music! A+ on "Till We Get it Right"

  • West's "Trains" Are Real and Moving
    author: Timothy Yap

    Just by listening to West, it's hard to imagine that this Arkansas native is only 20 years of age. With a wild turkey twang of John Anderson edged with a rebellious streak of Hank Williams, West has a seasonal depth that most only acquire after decades of singing in those smoke-filled honky tonks. Such a true-to-life vocal is even made more poignant by the choice of songs: most of which presents realistic slices of small town American life. Generally, the production by Michael Callahan is top-notched with a bevy of rustic instruments such as dobro, steel, mandolin, playing side by side with more aggressive guitars and drums. Nevertheless, there is a traditional feel to the CD without being totally aloof from today's country. The only misgivings here being the awful cheesy- sounding electric guitars at the beginning of "Some Things Daddies Fix." Despite his youthfulness, the tracks all deal with serious issues that matter such as family, politics, trains, down-home blues and romance. Most moving is West's tribute to his granddad on the uptempo "'Till I Get It Right." Despite having the odds stacked against him (such as a lack of education and opportunities), "'Till I Get It Right" is an inspirational ode of how West's grandfather persevered through life. Never one accused of being a sexist, West credits his grandmother's prayers as the guiding beacon for treading on the right path on the gentle Paul-Overstreet-esque ballad "Grandma's Wishes." God is the next that gets West's due respect on the Brad Paisley/Dolly Parton's number 1 hit "When I Get Where I'm Going." Unfortunately, West's version can never escape Paisley's hit version where West even has a Dolly-sounding backing vocalist doing Dolly's part. Lest one thinks this is a maudlin project with tooth-decaying sweetness, West does step up to the palette of controversy with the daring "Big Mack Donald." Using the nursery rhyme "Old Mack Donald Had a Farm" as the template, "Big Mack Donald" is a satire of the current decadence of Americana when he sings, "Politicians an' preachers once sometimes told the truth/We didn't throw war's first stone an' sacrifice our finest youth/With no video games or cell phones, a house felt like a home/Children fought an' played together instead of on a computer alone." "These Days," on the other hand, is a mournful lament of the struggling farming community over an achingly vulnerable ballad that just brims with potency. West does get away from the country-balladry for some swampy blues on "Down Home Country Blues"---something that ought to bring a smile to any Travis Tritt fan. The rockish "Alright With Me" is perhaps the most commercial offering here, but sadly also the most mediocre. However, such is only a minor quibble; "Slow Train" on the whole is a compelling effort. Perhaps because the songs presented here are so real. They deal with everyday happenings of the joys and triumphs as well as the worries and failures of small town living. When listening to "Slow Train," it's hard not to empathize with its characters West paints and perhaps this is what country music is all about.

  • Real Country Music
    author: Kay

    Great Country Music, I especially like Grandma's Wishes

  • Pure Traditional Country Music. Awsome CD
    author: Terri

    A + quality. Great sound. This is truly country music. Would love to hear more.

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