Grant Maloy Smith – Wild West: American Stories
This highly anticipated 4th in a series of Grant Maloy Smith award-winning American Stories is impressive. Grant’s earlier themed endeavors gave listeners a tour of the Dust Bowl, Appalachia & the Mississippi. Essentially, what Grant represents through these albums is a comprehensive look at our nation, the same way Ken Burns details his historic documentaries.
There are 18 cuts to Wild West: American Stories (Drops Sept.18/Suburban Cowboy Records/67:43) captured at Grant’s RI studio, with some artists remotely recorded. No C&W campiness, hoedowns, or hee-haw moments. This is a savvy, riveting document with details composed of skill & care. The songs arranged & produced by Grant (vocals/guitars/piano/B3 organ) trace vivid tales from the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis & Clark expedition to the transcontinental railroad, Pony Express, the Gold Rush & cowboy culture.
Grant’s rollicking “Go West Boys” opens & then Grant generously segues the spotlight to the dazzling Abbie Parker, who takes the lead vocal in the dramatic, if not epic, “Voices On the Wind.” The luxuriant & more traditional countrified “Come & Take It” follows with acoustic guitar picking & distinguished, pristine accompaniment. A propulsive performance. “Tear Trail” can be compared favorably to Willie Nelson, though Grant’s voice is distinctive, broad in its self-assured intonation.
Orchestration in country music is rare, but “Wagon Train” with its CinemaScope panoramic sound is redolent of Poco’s “Crazy Eyes.” A nice variable among the basics of Country that’s decorated to sparkle. There’s sufficient musical dust & tumbleweed cutting its own path through the album’s landscape. The country-folk idiom sweeps into “Gunslinger (The True Story of Lawman Bass Reeves),” lively with its sawing fiddle & snappy drums. “John Henry Holliday” is a good saloon tune narrative with a touch of accordion, frothy piano notes & waltz time. Some songs are sweet in the ear, while others take the mind on a journey.
Two superb rockier tunes are “Ro-dee-o” & “El Paso Senorita,” where the music swims in your ears or can become a breeze across your skin. Sometimes melodies like this will come to you with surprise, like a bird landing beside you & not flying away. Grant reaches this level with his music.
The collector’s box has lots of bells & whistles (vinyl/cd). A handsome 90pp perfect-bound hardcover book with images, stories & lyrics. One of 2026’s best albums.
Highlights – “Go West Boys,” “Voices On the Wind,” “Come & Take It,” “Tear Trail,” “Wagon Train,” “Pony Express,” “Gunslinger (The True Story of Lawman Bass Reeves),” “Kill the Cowboys,” “John Henry Holliday,” “Ro-dee-o,” “El Paso Senorita” & “Colorado.”
Musicians – Jeff Taylor (accordion), Scott Vestal (banjo), John Garland (bass), Rob Ickes & Billy Cardine (dobro), T.J. Samuels (drums), Matt Combs (fiddle/mandolin), Michael Cleveland (fiddle), Luke Cyrus Goetze (lap steel), Mike Johnson (pedal steel), Gareth Laffely (Native American flute/pow-wow drum) & Matt Burgess (percussion) with Carrie McDowell & Kim Fleming (vocals).
Color images courtesy of Grant. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.grant-maloy-smith.com/albums/wildwest
Song Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2026/07/08/song-premiere-grant-maloy-smith-go-west-boys/