West Side
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
A lively Americana outfit from Montana, Sam Platts & The Plainsmen also don’t shy away from swing and country sounds across these 11 very authentic tunes.
“Just In Time” opens the listen with an old time feel, where J Kane’s playful upright bass complements Sam’s deep, expressive vocals, and “Seven Times A Day” follows with Lilly Platt’s skilled fiddle adding much intrigue amid the country fueled melodies and dusty beauty.
Deeper into the listen, the vivid storytelling of “If You Haven’t Met The Wolf” benefits much from group vocal harmonies, while the lush strings and dreamy guitar of “West Side” makes this one of the album’s best, and really showcases Sam’s distinct baritone.
Near to the end, “The High Cost Of Low Living” is quite intimate, and benefits much from Lilly’s stirring fiddle, and “You Care Enough To Lie” exits with an upbeat and timeless brand of nostalgic country sounds that makes good use of Bill Dwyer’s spirited electric guitar.
The songs here were tracked live, and thus stay true to the genre, and the retro-country and rich textures embraces charming rhythm, frisky melodies and sharp lyricism that will absolutely impress those with an ear for the genre.
Travels well with: The Shootouts- Bullseye; The Beat Farmers- Tales Of The New West