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Establishing an identity as a performer and songwriter often doesn’t happen in the first few singles, but instead over a collection of tracks that together form the basis of a persona. Matt Westin is a rare exception to this rule, as the first set of songs he’s released have definitely painted a strong picture of who he is as an artist, and his latest studio cut in “Ghost Train” only provides us with more aesthetical consistency on his part. With Tennessee Outlaw Country backing him up, Westin delivers a juggernaut country-rock performance in “Ghost Train” worthy of the hype it’s receiving this spring season and then some, primarily because of its crossover appeal for both rock and country fans alike.
The melodies that comprise the heart and soul of this single are definitely strong enough to break through the fuzz of the guitars, but I like that Tennessee Outlaw Country isn’t exaggerating the distortion here just the same. There’s nothing worse than having a great country foundation and ruining it with a lot of bloated rock tones that would best be minimized when incorporating them into a track, and I get the feeling that Westin was thinking as much when he arranged this piece. Together, these artists are bringing out the best in one another whilst also steering each other away from the pitfalls that come with having a slightly indulgent artistic profile. This is a balanced performance, and it comes across that way directly because of the performers themselves.
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There’s no doubt in my mind that the melodic qualities of this track are far more important to the musicians than any element of virtuosity is, and had this not been the case, the vocal harmonies that carry forth the best lines in the song would have been smothered out by an extended guitar solo. I don’t think there’s much of a place for showboating in the modern country music genre, and there’s nothing here to indicate that Tennessee Outlaw Country and Matt Westin wouldn’t agree. They’re leaving the fanciful synthetics and chest-beating intensity of traditional pop/rock off the table entirely, instead replacing it with a brawny musicianship that sticks to the basics as we’ve always been able to appreciate them.
Matt Westin and his cohorts in Tennessee Outlaw Country are the perfect combination of country and rock n’ roll in the new single “Ghost Train,” and I hope I have the opportunity to see what they can do with this material live on stage at some point soon. There’s no stopping the momentum they have behind the percussion once they get rolling in this track, and if this is representative of what they can do at the onset of their professional relationship, having never recorded together prior to this first session, I think what they’re going to produce as they get to know each other a little better is going to be more than noteworthy to the country-rock faithful – myself included. “Ghost Train” sets a high bar, and I have a gut feeling they’re going to pass it soon enough.
by Jennifer Munoz
