Whiskey & Co. – Rust Colors

Whiskey & Co. has been Gainsville’s answer to southern country for upwards of ten years now, and to this day they remain one of the only country bands on a punk label to keep their Americana roots planted in separate soil from many of those on their roster.  Rather than fuse country with gravelly gutter bound street tales, they grow their crops organic, tilling their music with a legacy of countryside practices as old as the hills.  To this end the band has kept their sound pure, and rooted in the distant past (think Gram Parsons).

Their first full length in five years, Rust Colors, continues Whiskey & Co’s dusty traditions across eleven new tracks.  Back with all of the usual suspects – including the fiddle, banjo, electric and acoustic guitars.  As always, talented front woman Kim Helm reprises her role as lead vocalist, supported by the barnyard howl of Brian Johnson.  Johnson has always been somewhat of an acquired taste (think a stereotypical southerner, like Larry The Cable Guy), so thankfully Helm’s subtle, relaxed nature takes the reigns as usual.  Occasionally they share a duet, as per the hillbilly love song “In Spite Of our Selves” and the alcoholics’ anthem “Beer For,” and although Johnson’s voice feels as awkward as ever, some may argue that it offers variety and fits the witty content.

Meanwhile, the busy backdrop keeps the music grounded and varied.  The album gravitates towards a mid-tempo range, but still accelerates and slows from time to time.  “Top Poppin’” opens playfully, the beat bouncing to talk of drinking cold beer and singing along to that perfect front porch ditty.  “Beer For…” continues the uppity prance with an alcoholic’s menu (“I want a beer for breakfast, I wanna beer for brunch-fast, I wanna beer for lunch-fast, supper-fast, dinner-fast, and desert-fast”).  Comparatively, the title track and others like “Long Way Down” assert a strong country twang at a significantly reduced rhythm.

Most songs exist around strong rural imagery.  For example, “Backward Glance” draws upon an old “oak tree” when detailing a failed love looking for a chanced rekindling.

But with such country purity also comes limitations.  While the band puts a lot of love into each song, and infuses them with their own sense of being, it’s has a very “adult contemporary” sense to it that might turn some listeners off.  Now I’m not saying they sound like Phil Collins or Rod Stewart, but they definitely favor a safe, tested road and that means taking less risks.  The band sounds very comfortable, and while not uninspired, certainly lacks the youthful vigor one might expect.  To be frank, this has always been a sticking point for me with Whiskey & Co, and Rust Colors is no different.

If you’ve found yourself tilling the field in search of some light-hearted honky Tonkin country, then Whiskey & Co. gets the job done.  But if you prefer some more grit under your tread, then Rust Colors might pass like a pebble under a tractor – unnoticed.  Now don’t get me wrong, many will get a great deal of enjoyment out of Rust Colors – but I just haven’t been one to fall for their old timey charm.