Flyover Country
Self-Released, 2020
9/10
Cody Diekhoff, aka Chicago Farmer, cites this 6th album as his best work to date, and it’s hard not to agree with that. This time with The Band Of Heathens along with him, as well as some special guests, the guitar and vocal luminary delivers a stunning 10 track record.
“Indiana Line” gets the album started with acoustic guitars and the rugged yet melodic vocals he’s known for on the Americana opening, and “Flyover Country” follows with warm balladry that tugs on the heartstrings with emotive vocals.
An artist whose live shows have become legendary, the live track staple “$13 Beers” brings firm country sensibilities into the rootsy fun, while “Collars” is a sparse offering of timeless, folksy song craft. The lone cover, “Ramblin’ Man”, has the Diekhoff interpreting the Hank Williams tune with much soul in his own bluesy version of the high lonesome sound.
At the end, “Dirtiest Uniform” recruits plenty of rustic melodies in the vivid storytelling and upbeat instrumentation, and “The Village Revisited”, the most percussive tune, offers a barn yard dancin’ vibe with tambourines that will be sure to get your body moving.
Probably most known as a folk singer, there’s plenty of country, roots and Americana to be found here, too. Diekhoff is a hell of a storyteller and an equally skilled musician, and his Midwestern blue collar anthems sound better than ever here, as he again proves why he’s one of the best of the genre today.
Travels well with: John Fogerty- 50 Year Trip: Live At Red Rocks; John Patrick Walker- ‘Welcome To The Edge Times’