It’s December, which means it’s time for me to start reflecting on my favorite music of the year … but, of course, also catch up and make room for what I might have missed along the way. I guess that’s a twofold statement for me regarding Joe Stamm Band, a Midwest-based, self-described Black Dirt Country Rock outfit that’s been active for a decade now, with this year’s Wild Man arguably acting as a true breakout moment.
And it’s easy get hooked on the style right away, through the opening title track. With the slow-rolling opening acoustics that give way to a propulsive combination of thickly strummed electric axes and pounding drums, it’s got the cinematic intensity to work as a soundtrack to a western epic. And that’s furthered by lead singer Joe Stamm’s heavy, weathered delivery, which I’d place in a similar vein to, say, Ward Davis or Shane Smith, and only picks up more intensity alongside the composition as the song progresses. It’s perhaps a bit archetypal and feels basically one-dimensional in focus – like it was made for a Red Dead Redemption soundtrack or something – but when it kicks this much ass, I couldn’t care less.
That small nitpick might be what hampers my enjoyment for the rest of this album, however, where the imagery on display is certainly always striking but the actual details themselves fall into stock clichés built around the archetypal aging outlaw. And that’s not necessarily a bad lane to play toward, given this band’s rock-solid compositional foundation and production that’s always driving and propulsive. But the title track sets up a scene and story (and works great just as a standalone track) that the rest of the album never quite follows up on to the same thrilling degree.
A lot of songs focus on older characters well past their prime who are looking to repent for past mistakes made, but the details of what those old ghosts actually are never really fluctuate; it’s more about the here and now and making a life out of who you are today, rather than who you were yesterday. From confronting an old drunk who can rise above his darkness on the delicate ballad of “The Day Before” (which might also act as extended metaphor for the character offering the comfort in question, for all I know), to just feeling the miles of age and time on “Old Man” or “My Old Home,” I’d say this is an album that always tries to place the message at the forefront that it’s never too late to change or grow to better yourself, even if that’s got to start with some hard confrontations and reflections.
And that still leads to plenty of highlights. “Dollar General Sign” might not cut as deeply as other tracks I’ve heard about the trappings of a small town, but that’s kind of the point: It’s built around forgotten characters living their life as is, often just trying to survive as best as possible. And if there’s a song that stands up to the title track in terms of pure primal intensity, I’d definitely give it to the harsh thrashing evident on “Predators and Prey.” Less so on “Listen,” where the aforementioned vague lyrical details leave this feeling like a lot of bluster for nothing.
On a compositional level, though, this band is always solid, with a fair amount of diversity evident in their melting pot of southern-rock and alt-country, as well as their tones used. I already mentioned the opening title track, but the follow-up, “My Old Home,” is also a nicely brooding, sweeping moment, as is the jumpy, ‘70s-inspired groove of “Timber.” The fast-paced fiddle drive of “Ahold of My Heart” also marks another personal favorite moment of mine, especially for how it reflects the overarching theme of this album in spotlighting two lovers who found each other later in life, but still know there’s value in each other’s company, even if they’re past their prime. Ending on an optimistic note of hope through “Second Coat of Paint,” too, in which a couple tries to build a family, also adds a nice touch to this album in finding some semblance of stability.
If anything, again, it’s just a shame that the songwriting doesn’t always deliver on the promise evident here, often too reliant on recycled tropes surrounding the archetypal rambling outlaw to just cut a little deeper. As it is, in terms of scope and execution, it’s still a solid listen, thanks to great production and tone as well as a strong lead singer who can sell the weight of these hardships with true sincerity. I’m glad I finally caught up with this group of wild men.
(7/10)
- Favorite tracks: “Wild Man,” “Ahold Of My Heart,” “My Old Home,” “Dollar General Sign,” “Timber”
- Least favorite track: “Listen”
The Musical Divide 