In 2018, West End began recording the first of several concept albums (three so far) with pickers in Tennessee and in Ireland. The eponymous first album is dedicated to 70s and 80s rock. Replete with social commentary, these rock songs range from Music City anthems to “Surreality” and back, to touch on the futility of war and violence, and loneliness in the modern world.
What do the critics have to say? West End “unrestrainedly devote themselves to classic guitar rock opulence.” Or from another German reviewer, “The two guitarists Tom Shinny and Bruce Dees don't seem to have adjectives like 'shallow' or 'boring' in their vocabulary.”
And then there’s “Jason Duffy on drums, [who] knows how to sound the alarm when the song demands it.” Kirk and Bobby will just have to wait for upcoming reviews for a mention.
And the songs? “The somewhat melancholic ‘Western Avenue’, for example, is really great ... Another good example from this mix of old (the songs) and new [personnel] … is ‘Welcome To ... Lil 'LA’, but with a very powerful Grateful Dead … peek around the corner before a rock guitar suddenly takes over after two and a half minutes. The track remains in the fairway, but still maintains a straight line. With ‘Thin Soup’ the rocker of the disc is finally ignited.”
CD UPC #: 860003443712
LP UPC #: 860003443736
Spare Time Records Catalog No.: STR-715
Track Lineups
Click song title for link to YouTube
West End
At the End of the World
Western Avenue
Play It by Ear
Art of Living
Welcome to … Li’l L.A.
Thin Soup
Dodge City
Business as Usual
Surreality