Press
December 29th, 2014
Lee Briante and Robert Black are a couple of the best songwriters in americana right now. From the traditionally country “Hudson Valley” to the Tom Waits-like “Forged In Iron”, The Far West hits all the right notes on Any Day Now. “She’s Gonna Leave Him Too” is the best “screw you and screw her, too” song I’ve ever heard, and “The Bright Side” shouts misery through a spunky beat. If you didn’t get a chance to see The Far West as they toured the country during 2014 — including several shows with Dave & Phil Alvin, one of which I was lucky enough to attend — look for them in 2015 at a venue near you. (Read On...)
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December 26th, 2014
This band, fronted by Texan, Robert Black and New England native, Lee Briante, have their boot heels planted firmly in the same L.A. dirt once occupied by Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash, Guy Clark and Kris Kristofferson. As they’ve crafted an album with the honky tonk roots of the golden days of the Palomino, they have filled this fine sophomore effort album with songs that call to mind the best of the what California country has to offer. By Terry Paul Roland (Read On...)
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December 1st, 2014
The Morton Report - Bill Bentley
Just when the thought of a support group called Americana Anonymous starts to sound appealing, a stealth attack from a band as good as The Far West happens, and all seems right again with the genre. Which isn't to say there aren't too many aggregations in the Americana crowd, because there are, but there's always room for the exception to the rule. And that's this quintet, who strip away all the superfluous pretentions to the rootsy sound, and add enough elements of reality to make the music hit home hard. While the band may call SoCal home, their restless core would let them hang their hat anywhere they wanted. These are seekers who sound like they won't stop until they get where they're going, no matter where that might be, and will take willing listeners to that brand new place. (Read On...)
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November 28th, 2014
Coast to Coast: Sharon Van Etten, The Wooden Sky, Andrew Bird, The Afghan Whigs, and The Far West.
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October 31, 2014
With a name like The Far West, what other kind of music would these guys play if not the roots music of their homeland. In a way it is Country rock, but in this case revisited in a modern way, with influences from the 1970's, and deeply inspired not only from that genres pioneers but even more from the second generation of alt-country and the 'paisley underground' which found its peak in the underground in the late 1980's. The Far West, who are signed with the innovative label Medina River Records, is a band composed of musicians from all over the United States, now based in Los Angeles. This year they followed up their strong self titled debut album from 2011, with a new album of splendid songs. The new album 'Any Day Now' perfectly encapsulates 'Americana'.
As I mentioned the band comes from all over. Any Day Now opens with a song written by singer and guitar player Lee Briante, who hails from New York. The opening song defines the spirit of the album and captures the feeling of the American landscape and the broad origins of the band. In my opinion the swagger and the structure of the song reminds me Israel Nash Gripka and to those that are not frequent readers of RootsHighway, this comparison is probably enough to spark your interest. The song 'Walk Light on this Poor Heart of Mine' written by bass player Robert Black, is simply breathtaking. A big time ballad with superb use of reverb and shimmering organ it reminds me of something from the band Green on Red. I also enjoyed the track Hudson Valley, with fantastic use of piano and slide guitar as well as the first single off the album, the country rocker 'The Bright Side'. You can really hear the quality and musicianship of the band and the superb recording & production. The other band members are Robert Black (Bass), Aaron Bakker (Guitar), Brian Bachman (Drums) & Michael Whiteside (Piano & Organ).
'Leonard' is another song with vintage influences. Theres certainly a Dylan influence in the singing here but the music and catchy riff by Trumpet player Nic Chafee really pushes this track over. 'These Arms Will be Empty' is another ballad in the style of The Jayhawks, as is the song 'Wichita'. 'Words From a Letter' is a piano driven honky-tonk rocker and on the other hand 'Post & Beam' sounds melancholic. 'Wichita' is melodic and spacious with a triumph of guitar crescendos. 'Forged in Iron' has a western vibe with a splash of urban energy. 'She's Gonna Leave Him Too' is a classic California ballad and 'Across The Bed' ends the album with grace and personality.
In conclusion, The Far West plays very well with great technical execution as well as personality. They prove capable of creating a timeless gem of American roots music in a modern way but without forgetting the classics like Roger McGuinn, Uncle Tupelo, The Jayhawks, Fred Neil, Levon Helm, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and John Prine. The Far West will certainly be a great companion for the rest of the year. (Read On...)
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October 23rd, 2014
I caught this Los Angeles-based quintet play an afternoon show at the Americana Conference and was damn impressed. They skillfully mine the Southern California brand of Americana, recalling Gram Parsons and the legends of the Bakersfield Sound. Singer Lee Briante has an appealing melancholy to his voice. It lends the right country feel to their more rock-laced songs while giving added depth to the country-oriented ballads. (Read On...)
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September 2014
Alternative country band The Far West followed at the carousel stage. In the small space, the crowd felt larger than that of Bootstraps, and was certainly more enthusiastic. Clever songwriting, undeniable chops and an authentic charm characterized their performance.
In particular, frontman Lee Briante possessed a certain effortless charisma that won over the crowd. I ran into him later and asked about his musical history. He listed his parents as big influences, saying they were true music lovers and had great taste, introducing him to the likes of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Little Feat. (Read On...)
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July 2014
The Far West opened the show. This group is billed as Americana or Roots musicians. This is the type of music that used to be called country before that genre of music was mainstreamed and watered down to make economic compromises for mass tastes. These guys had some chops and performed mostly original work. The phrasing and tone of lead singer Lee Briante reminds me of a young John Prine. (Read On...)
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June 7th, 2014
Any Day Now is the second studio album from one of my current favorite bands, The Far West. Simple American folk music about exploring the deeper country landscapes with a sense of loss. “Were not very good about writing happy stuff” says singer Lee Briante who is from the Hudson Valley by way of Western Mass. Check out my favorite track on this album “Hudson Valley" for obvious reasons. After months of listening to this album I realized that its not sad at all but simply honest. (Read On...)
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May 24, 2014
“The album is bolstered by solid songwriting, a strong twang-lined group spirit and a renewed sense of validity to the comparisons being flung at the band, including Uncle Tupelo, The Band and, yes, that far western rocker cowboy Gram Parsons.” (Read On...)
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May 2nd, 2014
The totally endearing thing about The Far West is that they don't sound like anyone else, which may explain why their reviews tend to have lines like "I can't stop listening to this". (Read On...)
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April 30th, 2014
Close your eyes and spin their new album, Any Day Now, and you’ll soon find your mind wandering and riding the backroads of American roots music, sitting broken-hearted on a wheel well in the bed of a rusty pickup truck. There aren’t a lot of surprises here, but sometimes it’s nice to know where you’re going. Just relax, feel the wind in your hair and enjoy the ride. (Listen...)
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April 29th, 2014
L.A.'s The Far West have their share of fast songs and slow songs and good old-fashioned tell-me-a-story songs, but this country-rock quintet may be at their best on their sad songs, at least on new album Any Day Now. Singer-guitarist Lee Briante has a certain John Prineian rasp to his voice; "Walk Light on This Poor Heart" isn't far from Prine's heartbroke "Rocky Mountain Time." And he's got some of Prine or Terry Allen's cut-to-the-bone wit: "I'm sorry I'm askin' your forgiveness," from "Words From a Letter," is exactly the kind of paradox that makes perfect sense after a few whiskeys. When they rev up, The Far West recall any number of the '70s cosmic cowboy rockers, particularly the underrated Elliott Murphy. But when they break down, well that's the real good stuff. (Read on...)
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April 3rd, 2014
The Far West marry the classic yearning and killer hooks of good alt-country with the romp and holler of something more. It could be said they’re an evolved version the sound dubbed “Alt-country” around the turn of the century — they’re helping Americana grow and breathe. In terms of comparison, they’re reminiscent in some ways of a grittier Dawes, but with a little more rasp and AM country flair. There’s a rollicking bite and kick, like The Felice Brothers at their finest, and it’s the raw simplicity and sincerity of the songs that make these songs so good, and, authentic. (Read on...)
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March 18th, 2014
The five members of the Los Angeles band The Far West came together in 2010 and Any Day Now, their second album, shows what a talented group they are. The melodic and sardonic On the Road (written by New York singer and guitarist Lee Briante about Hollywood) kicks off an album which has a pleasing flow to it. Walk Light on this Poor Heart of Mine is a catchy sad song and the band get rocky on Witchita. They also do heartbreak well on Across the Bed.
The band share songwriting duties (Texas mandolin player Robert Black's upbeat song The Bright Side features nifty guitar picking from producer Colin McLean) and gel well throughout. James Williams is on keyboard, Aaron Bakker on guitars and Travis Popichak on drums. The 13-song album is diverse (there is a country-swing feel to Leonard, which features guest Nic Chafee on horns) and These Arms Will Be Empty has a languid charm that typifies a very strong album. (Read On...)
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March 17th, 2014
Calvin Powers Interviews Lee Briante on the Americana Music Show. (Read On...)
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March 8th, 2014
When the band reaches the height of its powers on the strongest songs, like bass player Robert Black’s emphatic ‘The Bright Side’ (with a sizzling guitar solo by Aaron Bakker), the ebullient ‘Wichita’ and the timeless ‘Oh Love!’ they are something to behold! (Read On...)
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March 7th, 2014
It is the bait you use that nets the best catch. For The Far West, it was a Craig's list ad. No message accompanied the insert, just a link to a live clip featuring Waylon Jennings on YouTube. It was enough to get the five members to leave other bands and join the inspirations they were receiving from the music of Gram Parsons, Uncle Tupelo and The Band. (Read On...)
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March 6th, 2014
That feeling when you discover a new band for the first time, falls in love with their sound and songs, and actually spend time fearing the fact that they’ll go their separate ways before they fulfil their obvious potential. That feeling is a huge part of the reason why we spend our free time listening to crappy music sent our way, in search for those rare gems that we hope others will appreciate just as much. (Read On...)
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March 1st, 2014
An unapologetic, no-bones-about-it Americana act, the band wears its’ influences high and heavy throughout the course of their second proper LP, the 13-track release Any Day Now. Formed in 2010 around a shared appreciation of Gram, Uncle Tupelo, and The Band, The Far West bang out a sharp blend of country rock that comes straight from the No Depression playbook that was all the rage in the ‘90’s and early 2000’s, but seems to have slipped from the musical map in recent years. (Read On...)
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February 27th, 2014
The production is loose and ragged in the best ways that country music can offer with raging lead and slide guitars, with a driving and pulsing rhythm section and a Dylan-in-65 organ that brings a funky kind of majesty to the proceedings. The Far West is one of a growing group of L.A. based country bands who understand the origins of their inspiration in both the California terrain and the American landscape that leads them down that lonesome road, like so many before them. (Read On...)
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February 27th, 2014
In a dusty roadhouse jukebox where moody indie rock meets upbeat country shuffle, you’ll find the weary contrasts of The Far West (Read On...)
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February 27th, 2014
The whole album is chock-full of solid songwriting, great arrangements that bring out the darker elements of the songs, and production that fits the band’s aesthetic just right. Let a little California sun into your life on this cold February day and check out Any Day Now. (Read On...)
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February 27th, 2014
The Far West coaxes a wary optimism out of its tightly drawn Americana, with Briante’s vocals earning comparisons to the likes of Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. It’s music you can bawl to or brawl to (in the friendliest possible way, naturally), and it’s no wonder the Far West has become a favorite at the Grand Ole Echo (where the video for “The Bright Side,” above, was filmed). It’s nice to have find the Heartland in La-La Land. (Read On...)
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February 24th, 2014
The new album, Any Day Now, is well worth the wait and should easily be an early contender for Americana album of the year. Led by Lee Briante's haunting, haggard, and heartfelt vocals, The Far West lays down a baker's dozen of modern Americana classics. (Read On...)
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February 21st, 2014
What The Far West songs do really well is inhabit the crossroads where dewy-eyed hope for a road out and the self-awareness of what you’re running from collide. These are honest thoughts, spoken through stories that seem like they could happen, and I think that will serve the Far West well long-term, as it does on “Any Day Now”. (Read On...)
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February 20th, 2014
"Based on its music, The Far West could be from just about anywhere. There's some classic honky-tonk, a bit of the Bakersfield sound, classic alt-country a la Uncle Tupelo (or even Gram Parsons), and singer Lee Briante's deep sandpapery voice, which sounds an awful lot like John Prine's. And that makes perfect sense: Though the band is based in Los Angeles, its members hail from all over the country—Chicago, Texas, upstate New York and, yes, even California. The critically acclaimed combo is set to release its second album Any Day Now any day now" (Read On...)
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February 3rd, 2014
"Every once in a while, a disc crosses my desk and I have a hard time letting go of it. That has been the case with the new release from The Far West. This one has been spinning a lot over the last couple weeks. Take a listen to “On The Road” and tell me singer Lee Briante is not spot on for John Prine." (Read On...)
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January 27th, 2014
"This isn’t folk music with a country attitude, this isn’t rock music that incorporates a banjo: they have made a classic country record with the upcoming Any Day Now. From the first dark notes of “On the Road,” to the almost Flying Burrito Brothers-esque “Walk Light on this Poor Heart of Mine,” to the barroom catchiness and evocative keys of “Words from a Letter,” this may be the best country record I’ve heard in years." (Read On...)
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July 20th 2012
Low Down & Dirty w/ Nick 13
Nick 13 name checks us here:
What Country records are in heavy rotation for you right now?
The new Marty Stuart record is great, one of the best of the year so far. I definitely spun The Far West’s album quite a bit as well, which led to putting them on the show this weekend
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July 12th 2012
Arizona Daily Star
Impossibly cute frontman Lee Briante, with punky Justin Bieber hair and a 5 o'clock shadow, is rarely without a button-down Western-style shirt as he sings about drinking and drowning in love. This is throwback country, circa 1950s-'60s Opry. There's hints of some of the members' red-dirt South Texas sensibilities intertwined with a little Bakersfield sound from their adopted Cali. (Read On...)
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February 24th, 2012
The Far West go vintage for their new video, "Bitter, Drunk & Cold." Find out how they drew inspiration from George Jones and brought back Nudie suits to LA with this TJ exclusive, behind the scenes look at the making of "Bitter Drunk & Cold."
Q & A with Lee Briante and Robert Black (Read On...)
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February 19th 2012
Flying Shoes
Lead singer Lee Briante gives the band a very distinctive sound, his voice being a wry, world-weary drawl, whilst the band behind him plays neat, cheerful country music that is predominantly upbeat in tone. With lyrics that frequently have a beaten up, humorously cynical air about them, it feels like the whole shebang is completely imbued with the spirit of Townes van Zandt – cheerfully bleak throughout. I reckon the marriage of that vibe to some beautifully played, regular guy country music that is rich with melody is The Far West’s masterstroke. (Read On...)
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January 25th 2012
Now This Sound is Brave
I was hooked from the first song and spent a week or two carrying it around with me in order to appreciate it properly. It’s good walking and thinking music; by which I mean, I would put it on as I was headed home after work and the next thing I knew 20 blocks had slipped by without my noticing. (Read on...)
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January 10th 2012,
Nine Bullets
Suddenly you stumble upon these gems just sitting there, waiting to be discovered. They call themselves “The Far West”, and that’s really how they sound. Like cowboys from a long lost outposts, somewhere from far out west, who has hooked up with the ghosts of Whiskeytown and Hank Williams. (Read On...)
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January 9th, 2012
Country Jukebox
No question, these guys are arguably amongst the discoveries of the last year. Under the production of Amos McWoods the quartet achieves really big things when it comes to crisp, balanced and flowing music bouncing between traditional and modern styles. (Read On...)
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January 9th 2012,
Rootstime
There is not one unnecessary track on the entire album, a feat not many novice groups can pull off, but from "The Far West" we only wish for more songs. Lets hope the second CD is not too long in coming. (Read On...)
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December 20th, 2011
Turnstyled Junkpiled
One of the acts at the forefront of this trend in true twang, are The Far West, a band whose name couldn’t better represent the spirit of what is brewing in the honest trenches of this often tough town. Coming by way of Texas (Robert Black- Bass/Vox), New York (Lee Briante – Guitar/Vox), Alabama (Alan Rogers – Drums), Virginia (Brian Bachman – Guitar) and Louisiana (Erik Kristiansen – Pedal Steel), The Far West bring LA’s signature, Gram Parsons style Country Rock, together with the type of Honky Tonk that is unmistakably Texas. But whatever it is they play, The Far West exceed in coming together to produce a distinct sound that is undeniably their own. (Read On...)
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December, 2011
3rd Coast Music Magazine
Usually one picks up, for better or worse, on a particular facet of an album, the singing, the material, an instrument, the arrangements or the production, but with this LA alternative country quintet you get a seamless package, everything fits together like, well, I was going to say a well-oiled machine, but that doesn’t work because there’s nothing slick or mechanical about their debut. Lee Briante, vocals/guitar/harmonica, Robert Black, bass/vocals, Erik Kristiansen pedal steel
guitar/guitar, Tony Sanborn drums/percussion and Mike Wells piano all quit other bands early last year “to pursue a sound they weren’t getting elsewhere,” but while their website has comments that compare them to Waylon, Wilco and
Whiskeytown, or combinations thereof, what I’m hearing is an exceptionally good country band backing two remarkable Americana songwriters, Briante, who wrote eight of the 14 songs, and Black, who wrote the other six. Though you
can’t tell from Amos McWoods’ superb production, the bar was open when this was recorded live to tape at American Legion Post #416, Encinitas, and perhaps being in their natural habitat rather than a studio accounts for the relaxed, laid
back vibe. Normally, I wouldn’t quote a blog, but a lead story honoring Mamie Van Doren’s 80th birthday would give Californiality’s review headline, “LA’s Best Country Band,” major credibility even if I hadn’t heard the album. As it is, I’d put these guys up there with Mike Stinson, who collared a good few ‘LA’s Best’ himself before moving to Houston. OK, one criticism—accordionist Debra Tala should be in the band instead of just playing on a couple of tracks.
JC
4 stars!
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November 24th, 2011
Rebel Rod's
Well, what you get is The Far West, a kick-ass countrified band that possesses some of the best original music I have heard in a very long time. There is not a single less than spectacular tune on the entire record. (Read On...)
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November 19th, 2011
Pearl Before Swine
As surely as The Far West conjure up some authentic sour mash Americana on this debut, they do so with a subtle originality that lifts them above any usual expectations of the genre. stand-out tracks like "Bound to Lose", "Bitter, Drunk, & Cold", and "Best Company Misery Ever Had" sound nothing less than timeless. An impressively strong first album that makes me excited to hear how much further west the Far West are gonna go. (Read On...)
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November 10th, 2011
Musikkbloggen
From time to an album shows up that reaches you right away and just demands attention. The album from The Far West is one of those. From the first songs line, "This town has left me ... bitter, drunk and cold," you notice that these guys have something special going on. (Read On...)
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October 30th, 2011
Californiality
The band's 2011 debut album, The Far West, has made an impact on the L.A. country charts and is garnering the attention of music critics in America and overseas with its straight-forward Americana appeal. The Far West takes country music where it should be by now in 2011 - technically pure, slightly jaded, no-nonsense and honest with stellar storytelling for the every-man. (Read On...)
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October 26th, 2011
Joe Six Pack Hillybilly Riot
The Far West's singer Lee Briante has a pleasant vocal likeness to the young Mr. Prine. This is a nice, low-key, ultra-indie album with modest production values but fun, thoughtful songwriting. The band has a penchant for old-fashioned country novelty songs, with wry wordplay reflecting on heartbreak and loss, cheerfully masked by liberal application of booze.
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October 18th, 2011
No Depression
The thing is, these guys put together a bunch of original songs and not quite a year ago they traveled down south close to where I'm at, and proceeded to make a record at the American Legion Post #416 in Encinitas. They did it in three days and it's a boffo blast of twang, drinking songs and music to make you want to head out on the dance floor. (Read On...)
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October 13th, 2011
Katie Darby Recommends (Click to go to original site)
The first time I put The Far West in the CD player, I immediately looked at my husband and said, “Whiskeytown.” The first song on the record, “Bitter, Drunk, and Cold,” seems like it could have been recorded during the same session as a B-side like “Kiss & Make Up”. Along with the killer slide parts and the traditional country shuffle, the lyrics are great: standard themes, but well-written and blunt in a really attractive “revivalist golden-era” way:
When I first came here, I guess I was in love
I heard wedding bells, I saw the white dove
But one shoe dropped, and the other fell
I broke her heart and it went to hell
This town has made me bitter, drunk, and cold
And really, I’m a sucker for that combination: slide guitar, leisurely country, solid, direct lyrics– but The Far West has that x-factor which makes a disk stand out. (Read On...)
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September 19th, 2011
Alt Country Forum
Steve Earle once said: “If Garth Brooks is country, I hope to God I'm not." Americana music may not be country and western but it is a genre that harkens back to the authentic atmosphere of the founders of country music. A combination of melancholy and uplifting rhythms can be found on the self-titled disc by Los Angeles band The Far West. With these five music veterans working together, Lee Briante, Robert Black, Tony Sanborn, Erik Kristiansen and Deb Tala, you get an inspired debut. (Read On...)
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September 4th, 2011
Given and Taken In Ink (Click on name for original site)
Songwriters Briante and Black are masters of weaving genuinely gut-wrenching tales of broken hearts and shattered love, as in "I'll Keep the Bed Warm" (I'll keep the bed warm, baby / Whether or not you're coming home / I'd rather lie here thinking "maybe" / Than lie here thinking I'll be all alone); or "Maricopa City Lights" (She's the kind of girl you dream of / In the spaces in between love / When you let yourself think, there's still something good).
There are almost too many good songs to list here, but other standouts include the dark, self-deprecating humor of "Bitter, Drunk & Cold," the weary "Tears on the Pillowcase Again," or the more upbeat "Nothing Like You" and "Bound to Lose." (Read Entire Review)
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August 26th, 2011
LA Country Music
“This town has made me, bitter, drunk, and cold,” is the opening track and line of The Far West’s debut CD. It’s a great start to an album that is solid from start to finish. It defines what LA country music is about. It starts by referencing the city in itself, and the always-popular topic of drinking. It’s a witty track to start out on a good note. (Read On...)
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August 12th, 2011
Hipsters Guide to Roadtripping
On a hot summer day there’s nothing I want more than to kick back with some good tunes and a cold PBR to relax. I got my hands on a copy of The Far West’s debut album and am pleased to tell you it completely fills this need.
The Far West is a band that nearly defines “Americana” to a t. First you have a singer with just enough drawl to make your heart ache complete with sliding steel guitar with deep bass and beats. Others have compared the band to “Waylon’s band jamming with Wilco,” a comparison couldn’t be more spot on. (Read On...)
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August 12th, 2011
Carrie's Country Roundup
Sometimes it’s fun to crack open a beer and listen to some good country music. Other times, it’s even better to uncork some bourbon and FEEL it. The Far West definitely feels (and makes you feel) their authentic brand of old school country on their self titled debut. With a rock solid rhythm section and just the right touch of fiddle, banjo, and slide guitar; The Far West’s music captures the spirit and mood of country music’s golden age. (Read On...)
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April 6th, 2011
No, Your Product
If I ever run away from it all and find myself drinking cold beer at roadhouse on a hot, dusty road, I want The Far West to be the house band. The debut album from this LA band is relaxed and loose. The production stays out of the way, giving the music a timeless quality – exactly as it should be for the classic country feel of songs with titles like “Tears On The Pillowcase,” “A Town Called Lonesome,” “Bitter Drunk And Cold,” and “The Best Company Misery Ever Had.” Singer Lee Briante sounds a few drinks in, with a pleasant, slurry delivery. The pace generally doesn’t stray too far from a slow dance, but songs include honky tonk and Tex-Mex flavors, and the instrumentation includes just the right doses of accordion, fiddle, banjo – and lots of rolling piano. (Read Original Here)
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March 2011
Kentucky 7
"You know that real Americana. The one where you can feel that worn out seat of a rugged pick up. That feeling of really dusty boots with worn out heels. And a broken heart. That kind of Americana is played by The Far West. No more no less. It’s genuine down to that last longneck, sliding over the steelguitar.
The boys, Lee Briante, Robert Black, Erik Kristiansen and Tony Sanborn are hitting the right notes down the road that is great american folk and country music.
They have been described as something like” Waylon’s band jamming with Wilco” which should be something every band like this would put up on their walls and be proud of.
The Dylan-fan will be feeling right at home in songs like ”White Freightliner”, which sounds like its carved out of a 70′s Dylan record, and molded into The Far West.
The debut album is released today, and the band is headed out to SXSW for two shows, 15th and 16th @ B.D. Riley’s Pub and Waterloo Ice house.
April 3rd they will play @ The Grand Ole Echo in LA, with another of the Kentuckyseven favorites, Maxim Ludvig & The Santa Fe Seven. Now there is a show we would like to attend."
Read On...)
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Name Checked by David Serby in his interview with No Depression