Hello Reader,
Welcome back. Hope that you’re doing well.
Today we’re taking a look at a relatively new band on the scene, Briscoe. Their debut album, a ten-song album, West of It All was released for our listening pleasure on September 15th via the incredible label, ATO Records. If ATO is new to you, please take some time to look into their extensive release history and then support the label at your local record store.
Full disclosure: We were not compensated for our thoughts; all thoughts are entirely my own.
The duo known as Briscoe is comprised of the talented multi-instrumentalists, vocalists, and songwriters, Truett Heintzelman and Philip Lupton. The name comes from Luton’s paternal grandfather. The story of Truett and Philip met begins in the middle of the Texas Hill Country region at a youth summer camp. “I walked into camp as a 14-year-old redheaded kid who didn’t know anybody at all, so I just kept my eyes on the ground,” Lupton remembers. “A couple feet away from me was another person wearing the exact same pair of Chacos as me, and when we both looked up, it felt like we were looking in the mirror.” They instantly became good friends, realizing that not only did they look similar, but that they liked similar music like Simon & Garfunkel, the Avett Brothers and artists in between those two eras. During a talent show at the same camp, they performed for the first time together, playing the beautiful John Prine song, “Paradise.”
Briscoe became a band after Lupton and Heintzelman both decided to further their schooling at a much bigger city, landing at the flagship institution of the University of Texas system, UT Austin. As their undergrad time elapsed, they played to larger and larger crowds, released a self-titled EP in 2021. While still focusing on school and not the band, they added a couple musicians to make it a full band sound and soon after they signed to ATO Records. While at school, they also begin writing the songs on the album, West of It All. They just graduated in May of this year!
Speaking on how their roots shape them and how they influence West of It All, “We have an appreciation and an awe for that place,” says Heintzelman. “To us, the Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on this earth, and it became an inspiration when we were writing these songs.” The Hill Country also served as an escape from writer’s block as they would leave Austin and come back from the Hill Country, inspired.
West of It All credits include:
- Philip Lupton – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Piano, Keyboard, Percussion, Alto Saxophone
- Truett Heintzelman – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion
But Heintzelman and Lupton didn’t make the album alone. West of It All also features fantastic contributions from:
- Drummer and Percussionist Matt McCaughan (perhaps best known as the drummer of Bon Iver)
- Phil Cook (he of Megafaun, Hiss Golden Messenger, and DeYarmond Edison), played the (Slide) Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Organ, Piano, Keyboard, Harmonica, and Banjo.
- Brad Cook (brother of the aforementioned Phil Cook) played Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Organ, Glockenspiel and Cello.
Brad was indispensable in forging the albums cohesive sound as he was the producer, co-engineer (along with Paul Voran) and also the owner of the studio where the album was recorded in North Carolina not too long ago.
Onto some hype songs!
A video showcasing some of Hill Country in video form, and the album opener, “The Well”:
(All credits and rights to Briscoe)
An adventure that will have you tapping your toes and reflecting, “When The Desert”:
(All credits and rights to Briscoe)
“Feelin’ It Again”:
(All credits and rights to Briscoe)
West of It All is a great homage to the land that shaped Heintzelman and Lupton. The great expanse of Texas, specifically the Hill Country. Many of the songs are about youth and reflection, love, longing. And there are metaphors, literary references amongst several songs. Their songwriting is already advanced. The melodies overall are very catchy and within most songs, as a listener, you’ll find repeatable refrains. The refrains are often heard amongst complimentary vocal harmonies between Heintzelman and Lupton. There’s a good balance amongst different melodies and themes from song to song throughout the album. There are a good number of songs about past adventures and will probably make you pine for your next adventure and trip. There are a handful of songs on this album that I consider worthy additions to a road trip playlist.
West of It All opens with, “The Well” and it is a song with a jaunty melody due to the musical instrumentation. The banjo (Lupton), guitar (Heintzelman), and the vocal tone and pace at which Lupton delivers the vocals really create a rollicking mood over the top of darker, contemplative lyrics that explore youth and fulfillment. Heintzelman joins vocals to create one of many harmonies on the album. “The Well” is a road trip song? Definitely part of a road trip and/or adventure playlist.
On the next song, “Coyotes,” there is perfect banjo from the beginning to the end of the song, paired with a driving drum beat to carry the wistful melody. The lyrics are about being appreciative, and enjoying the moment, and longing for that moment to be shared with a loved one at a campfire. The howls from both Heintzelman and Lupton add a nice vocal touch and are perfect in the refrain.
The third song, “Wild Thing” opens with some lovely slide guitar, and the lyrics sung by Heintzelman kick in about youthful memories. Recounting infatuation during his formative years that’s still on the mind years later, as some easy banjo plays as well. The lyrics end with a direct open invitation. Perhaps the feelings were unrequited? Regardless, I hope the tale is completed in future songs.
“Sparrows” is a song rooted in literature. On its surface the lyrics seem ambiguous. I wasn’t sure if they told of a literal experience upon first listen. The character, Cathy Ames from John Steinbeck’s East of Eden served as inspiration for the lyrics. The vocals are sung by Heintzelman at certain points within the song, then Lupton joins in to pairs their vocals at other points in the song. Overall, that creates a unifying effect, as the song as a whole has a pleasant melody.
The next song on West of It All, “High On You” kicks off vocally before a musical solo could be had. It is a go-getter of a song. The melody is established, and the lyrics are euphoric, befitting the song title. The musical instrumentation creates a song that would fit right in in your road trip playlist.
“When The Desert” opens with a dozen seconds of funk. A prominent sound from some amazing slide guitar. Just beautifully played. Vocals and drums kick in create a shoe/boot stomping beat. Depends on your mood and the setting I suppose. The lyrics tell of travels near the US-Mexico border and also someone not settling down.
The seventh song on West of It All, “Easy Does It,” opens with some gentle percussion and guitar to create a melody that the vocalists can shine. Heintzelman and Lupton once again, pair their voices beautifully in this song. The lyrics tell of a Mama that can finally be at pace. The repeated refrains really enhance the song.
“Feelin’ It Again,” has lyrics about the sometimes-cyclical agony of past love over dynamic guitar, and later, slide guitar. A little more than halfway through the song, the addition of a piano beat alters and then really enhances the melody and makes the lyrics more impactful as well. The refrains towards the end of the song, create a feeling of heartache.
“Scattered Mind” is shortest song on the album. Heintzelman and Lupton harmonize and their different tones pair very well. The lyrics show appreciation but also some doubt. The melody is one of the most bare on the album and that was a good choice relative to the lyrics.
The closing song, “Hill Country Baby” opens with a cello. Got to love the choice of a cello. Good on Brad Cook and his cello playing sets the melody. The melody gets fuller with more instrumentation as the song progresses. The slide guitar solos really stand out. As do the vocals. The album is brought home with previously used themes of Hill Country and the vocal technique of refrains. The lyrics more specifically are of wishing and hoping to be saved. Juxtaposed with the well running dry in the song opener, we’ve come full circle.
West of It All gets a 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. The album is excellent. It is not among the best of the best of the albums this year, but it is not too far from it. I debated for a while between 4 and 4.5 Scum Drops. Ultimately one factor that pushed me into 4.5 territory was the limited body of work. This is their debut album. Heintzelman and Lupton harmonize so well together and seem to complement each other’s musicianship perfectly as well. They made great music choices as far as instrumentation and vocals. There are a lot of catchy refrains. Their songwriting is beyond their experience, and they should only get better as they play more together and age. Sonically, the Cook brothers knocked this out of the park. I cannot recommend listening to and adding this to your collection enough. Get it!
West of It All track list (song time):
- The Well (3:37)
- Coyotes (4:00)
- Wild Thing (4:03)
- Sparrows (3:07)
- High On You (4:07)
- When The Desert (3:01)
- Easy Does It (4:02)
- Feelin’ It Again (4:12)
- Scattered Mind (2:33)
- Hill Country Baby (5:08)
total run time: 37:50
The bands website with all the merch you could want, all the social media links, tour info and even what the guys are listening to can be found here: https://www.briscoetheband.com/
Thanks for reading and supporting good music.
See you in the next review,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
