Terry Klein – Hill Country Folk Music
This is Austin, Texas-based Terry Klein’s 5th album with the 11 tracks produced by Thomm Jutz (acoustic/electric guitars/harmony) & recorded in Nashville, TN for Hill Country Folk Music (Dropped Nov 7/Independent/41:30). The songs are all well-written, & one touches upon suicide from the perspective of a surviving loved one. Then, Terry probes how, later in life, an attempt is made to maintain a degree of coolness, while coming to terms with mortality & the variety of folk music produced by many elite Central Texas artists. Challenging subjects.
From the opening tune “Try” with its laid-back vocals & catchy guitar weave will remind a listener of the simple vocal pleasantries of many clever songwriting troubadours. There’s the quality of the late Tim Hardin in “If You Go,” with its rich lyrical earthiness & poignant melody that Hardin consistently applied to his own repertoire. It’s here in Terry’s material. Terry (vocals/acoustic guitar) has a more appealing folky vocal than the late David Blue, who was a bit monotone & wordy. Terry mixes up his topics & narratives as inspired as Blue did over his brief career.
Aside from the David Blue impressions, Terry’s “sound” is rooted in a Tom Paxton, Biff Rose & David Ackles mix if you’re familiar with going back that far in folk history. There’s no novelty silliness in these compositions. With “My Next Birthday,” the folksiness falls away & a more country-styled seasoning is added with expertise. Pristine guitar picking with a spray of gentle fiddle keeps the tune above the surface of hokey country & tied to a firm country tradition.
Terry’s voice is always rustically sincere; he’s a good narrator & keeps it interesting throughout the song. It reminds me of what the late John Hartford used to sing. With a country-rock John Mellencamp rural approach is “The Job Interview Song,” which has its humor despite its serious implications. Integrating good instrumentation, the song establishes itself through its inspired delivery. Terry has the perfect voice for such a tale.
The tune “The Dirty Third” has a Waylon Jennings-type vocal finesse. The instrumental interplay is impressive. A Musconetcong River tributary is behind my house as I write this. So, hearing the song “Musconetcong River” was a surprise. And yes, it’s a good song. Terry manages, despite the comparisons to other artists, to maintain an admirable amount of originality in his music. Everything is nimble, cool & precise. It’s as it should be. He’s a good storyteller. Listen once, then “Try Again.”
Highlights – “Try,” “I Used To Be Cool,” “If You Go,” “My Next Birthday,” “The Job Interview Song,” “The Dirty Third,” “Musconetcong River,” “A Quiet Place To Sit,” & “Try Again.”
Musicians – Lynn Williams (drums/percussion), Tim Marks (bass), Mike Compton (mandolin), Scotty Sanders (pedal steel guitar), Justin Moses (fiddle/dobro), & Finn Goodwin-Bain (piano/organ).
Color photo courtesy of Valerie Fremin. CD @ https://terrykleinmusic.com/product/1159071-hill-country-folk-music-cd
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Terry Klein “Leave The Light On”
