Green Corn Revival isn't the kind of country music you expect to come from Western Oklahoma.
The band recorded a three-song EP shortly after forming in 2009, and the seven musicians have come quite a way in only a year.
The Weatherford act's full-length debut, "Say You're a Sinner," drops Sept. 24 and is an impressive, eclectic affair. There's a lot going on throughout each of the disc's 11 tracks. There are jazzy pianos and delicate brush work on "Only Love," distorted power chords and power-pop drumming on "New Way Back," while "Watching Over Me" rings with a little retro '50s rock and Chris Isaak-intoned vocals, courtesy of Jared Deck.
"Pt. I" and "Pt. II" mark the beginning and middle of the album, and are similarly styled instrumental numbers peppered with lyric-less "ahh"s and "ooh"s, whip-cracks and south-of-the-border studio trumpets from non-member musician James South. Each clocks in under two minutes, is completely random, and somehow totally fitting.
"Going Back to Austin" is the best track. Reverberating, delayed guitars are swallowed by sobbing lap steel and slow guitar strumming, with Deck singing softly. Natalie Houck joins the vocal fray for large, embracing choruses, and the background swirls with morose guitar soloing and a flood of dancing, darting, cluttered effects.
"Blue Water" closes out "Sinner" with rhythmic disarray and a jumble of instruments, voices and piano-key dives.
"Say You're a Sinner" has an earthy, tribal quality that fuses gospel with rural retro charm. Think Arcade Fire minus the attitude, or Rusted Root with two-thirds fewer drummers. "?Joe Wertz
