Review: Sleepercar - West Texas

Posted on 9 September 2008 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana

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West Texas is the debut album of Jim Ward’s (of At The Drive-In and Sparta fame) new project Sleepercar. And while I’ve only been through West Texas a few times, this album sounds just like I remember the landscape. It is Ward’s attempt to balance his hard-rockin’ past with quieter and more intimate songwriting. Although there are remnants of the past here (especially the sometimes strain in his voice), this is mostly in a strangely alt-country rock style that (at least for me) was a bit unexpected. Not bad at all, but unexpected. Ward and company mine a well-worn and dusty sound that goes down smoothly with a good beer and good friends. So the final verdict on West Texas when I cut out all the descriptive shit is that this is exactly what I’d expect a Jim Ward fronted alt-country or bar-rock band might sound like. Nuff said.

MP3 | Sleepercar – Fences Down West Texas
MP3 | Sleepercar – Kings & Compromises West Texas