This country

More of an Alt-country thing, than strictly C&W. Quite a rough demo. Needs a gravelly authentic American voice, but this’ll do for a demo. Aiming for a swampy backwoods vibe. Any comments, or even votes gratefully received! *** update: there are a few studio versions in production now with some different singers. Just made a first demo of duet with a young singer from Austin. There’s another more backwoods thing also happening with a singer from South Carolina. *** update, studio version now made, a duet with a singer in Texas… https://youtu.be/Xj1qNdWxtBQ

Responses

  1. Ian Middleton 8 March, 2023

    I’m gambling all day
    And drinking all night
    And I’m asking the good lord
    To show me the light

    The bottle and glass
    Will help with the load

    Can’t follow the path
    Can’t find the road

    Stuck at the crossroad
    Here’s something I’ve learned
    You can’t make a crossing
    On the bridges you’ve burned

    All of the signs
    Say its time to go

    Can’t follow the path
    When you can’t find the road

    This country
    Betting on the good times
    This town
    Just like all the rest
    Beer tastes better in
    The last town
    1234
    Lord help me do my best

    This country is mean
    This country is hard
    Hat band are grinding
    Old tunes in the bar bar

    And Dolly is telling me
    Something is owed

    She follows the path
    Keeps her feet on the road

    This country
    Betting on the good times
    This town
    Just like all the rest
    Beer tastes better in
    The last town
    1234
    Lord help me do my best

    M8 singing part
    Lord
    Help me find the way

    This world can hurt you
    Its hard to ignore

    If you’re drinking too much
    It won’t show you the door

    Cant find any love
    the world seems stone cold
    Follow the path
    Keep your feet on the road

  3. Mark Spruce 9 March, 2023

    Really like the interesting chord structure on this one. Lovely deep tones to your guitar sound and the phrasing on the chorus. Something quite dark and engaging about this one. Good stuff.

  4. Ian Middleton 9 March, 2023

    Thanks Mark, only a scrappy little demo, but enjoyed making it. I’ve always wanted a Tenor guitar sound, so steered clear, where possible, of the higher notes, adds quite a nice deep but rough buzzing tone. Dammit, wish my voice was gravelly and rough enough to give it a better edge. Thanks for the nice comment.

  5. Ian Middleton 13 March, 2023

    … and in a news update, despite the slight feeling of tumbleweed blowing through the town on this track, I’ve been contacted by some country music folk in the US to make a proper recording for them to produce over there. I’ll try and post up what’s happening. I did a quick co-write with the U.S. vocalist over the weekend and am laying down some clicktracked acoustic today. Wonder what will happen?

  7. Ian Middleton 15 March, 2023

    Thanks Ms K! Early days, yet. Quite a young singer, looks like it’s going down a very stripped back route dungarees on a porch type thing. Should be interesting. It’s slightly amazing how having an authentic deep country American voice changes the whole thing. I started up trying to write “old town road” and ended up with “duelling banjos”.

  11. Ian Middleton 23 March, 2023

    How Simon, thanks!

    Initially I DIDNT want to do a country song at all (not really interested), but started listening to a few alt-country people, and it sort of gave me a pathway to this. It was interesting to take this into a studio, as a couple of singers in the US showed some interest and wanted a proper demo (see link above). Used to do this quite a bit, but with TisT I make weird scratchy acoustic demos. Who knows where these songs come from, eh?

    I’m not a singer songwriter at all, really, more of a songwriter that occasionally sings just to make a demo.

    Played this at a folk club on Monday and made everyone be a gospel choir… they all got into it, adding mad harmonies. Might be a keeper. Thanks for listening, appreciated ate it!

  13. Suzanne Harper 23 March, 2023

    It’s been fun following the development of this song, Ian! You’ve created a very atmospheric arrangement and take us on a journey with your lyrics. I think you’re finding your way 😎

  15. Steven Blais 25 March, 2023

    Your guitar groove (both up front strum and the slide) took my thoughts directly to Ray Wylie Hubbard, who I suspect you know sings as gravelly as can be! “beer tastes better in the next town” yep. Good one!

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