Music has the power to get you up and move. Whenever the artist wants you to groove to their music, the energy is undeniable. For Two Faces West, it isn’t enough to get you to move to their bluesy rock sounds. “Postcards From Lonely Places” is the start of a musical journey that kicks things off with “Ain’t Got a Clue”
The groovy drums instantly establish an upbeat energy before the brass and bassline completely takes over. Kurt Ashmore’s vocals are powerful and are full of a gritty soul-infused aesthetic, hitting you hard and fast with quick lyrical hits that pop. It gives the track an in-your-face attitude, with lines such as “late for work! Work hard to get ahead, how pathetic” and “Boss didn’t hesitate, said your job is through. Go home and sing the blues” are packed with a rebellious spirit. When backed with a catchy chorus and an incredible funky guitar solo, “Ain’t Got A Clue” delivers a memorable first track that will get you moving to its groove.
“Rocks Like A Country Song” puts its best americana foot forward in the intro before delivering the gut punch with the line “where did I go wrong? Cuz it sounds like a country song” before kicks up the tempo into a full ramblin’ bounciness. The stringy, free-wheeling guitar makes the track chock full of memorable musical moments. It’s the banjo, however, that ends up stealing the show when it bursts onto the scene and begins dancing with Ashmore’s bluesy crooning. “Rocks Like A Country Song” is a stand-out track whose playful attitude will leave a smile on your face.
The heavy sound of the distorted guitar riffs creates an undeniable hard rock sound that gives “Moonshiners” a palpable attitude that serves as a bit of a turning point in the album. The heavy riffs lay down a rugged groove while the drums slam a beat that gives the track a meteoric impact. Kurt Asmore rises to the occasion with a raspy, aggressive vocal aesthetic that brings the raw power of the track front and center. Around the 1:40 mark is an absolutely face-melting guitar solo that crushes just under a minute of runtime and is picked right back up when Ashmore hits the mic hard enough to make your head spin. It comes together to make “Moonshiners” a memorable track that isn’t afraid to rock out with some absolutely infectious riffs.
“Dirty Ol’ Man” kicks into high gear from the top and never stops. The wild guitar riffs and slammin’ drums are backed by the bouncy bass that gives it a groove that brings out the swing in the guitar. It gives the track the charm of the earlier, groovier tracks that will get you up out of your seat but kicks that energy into overdrive. Kurt Ashmore’s powerful vocal styles from “Moonshiners” come through here, bringing a high energy and punchy attitude. While he may say he’s a “Dirty Ol’ Man” in the chorus, the line “I’ll meet you on the dancefloor if you please” is the one that lets you know it’s party time.
The musical ride that “Postcards From Lonely Places” takes you on is a groovy one on a rocky road. It lures the listener in with its groovy basslines and bluesy vibes in tracks such as “Ain’t Got a Clue” and “Vegas at 3am,” only to drop you into a hard-rockin’ second half after the mellow “Mountain Sunrise.” It gives the album a unique personality and pushes both the rock side of the music and the groovier bluesy sounds to deliver a wild ride you’ll need to hear to believe.
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