ALBUM REVIEW: On The Widow’s Walk – The White Buffalo
Emmy nominee Jake Smith, aka THE WHITE BUFFALO, is back with his seventh studio album, On The Widow’s Walk. The latest record promises the same complexity and mystery as those previous, but this time is produced by Shooter Jennings, who provides piano and keys for the most cohesive and diverse sound yet.
Problem Solution kicks off the record with a laid back, easy-going attitude. It’s an uplifting track, Smith’s coffee-and-chocolate vocals guiding you through a journey of self-discovery and life lessons. Shifting the mood gracefully from inspiring positivity to a more sombre reflective energy, the Drifter tiptoes in with soft, barely-played acoustic spattered with piano touches that create a gentle and drifting background atmosphere. As with many tracks on the record, you feel you should be lying on the grass at night staring up at the stars, letting Smith’s lyrics waft over you like smoke, weaving stories as you float on up with it.
No History brings the tempo back up with a strong, percussive drum intro leading into a flowing vintage-style acoustic jam, the only word to describe this would simply be ‘lovely’. This could easily be the theme song of a retro coming of age movie, no-frills, just straightforward good energy and musicianship. Sycamore and Come On Shorty are quintessential blues-touched folk, beautiful lyrics and a soft, positive sound that balances precariously on the darkness of the lyrics. Jenning’s piano again adds a delicate and unique touch that continues throughout the record.
Faster Than Fire is, fittingly, one of the fastest tracks on the album, a heaving pounding intro leads into an upbeat, tinny electric guitar, creating a welcome change of pace to split the album up. Smith shows his wondrous vocal abilities here, switching from the creamy smoothness of previous tracks into his gruff and raspy bass tone, wonderfully fitting for a song like this, it was instantly stuck in my head.
Widow’s Walk teases with a delicate piano intro, soft and poignant, and the lyrics begin to flow similarly. Every track on the record tells a unique story, and you find you are listening to every word to find out more about the tales Smith is weaving. “We were driving through an East Coast seaport town and I asked what the little balconies were on top of the buildings,” recollects Smith. “Matt explained that the wives of the sailors would pace around on the roof-tops longing for their husbands to come home safely. There’s so much romance in that.”
River of Love and Loss shifts focus to more complex guitar work; intricate golden picking starts the track and continues throughout. The violin introduced in this track is unexpected but certainly not unwelcome, adding a unique almost tribal touch to the sound. A bold but perfect choice for the single, The Rapture brings us back to that deep darkness. A sound like timber being stacked in ancient woodland and a voice like thick mud in the nicest way possible combines with animalistic wolf howl vocals create a raw and brutal track. Ending the record with ease, I Don’t Know a Thing About Love rounds the record off with the soft vocals and gentle piano.
“I guess what I’ve tried to do with this new album is to represent a broad range of emotions. There’s dark moments here, more uplifting moments, questioning moments, it’s not just one thing. Also, I like to put some confusion into my songs, which is a very human element, I think.” Smith muses. Well… job well done. Although there are some tracks that don’t quite reach the strength and complexity of the others, On the Widow’s Walk strong addition to an already golden repertoire. THE WHITE BUFFALO shows again that dark and light not only can coexist, but they must, in order to experience the full truth and beauty in life.
Rating: 9/10
On the Widow’s Walk is out now via Snakefarm Records.
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