Country singer/songwriter Matt Westin has been on a roll lately. His last few singles have charted well while his general profile within the country music community seems to be getting quite popular with all the right folks. That said, adaptation is necessary to sustain any real credibility in this business, and in collaboration with country/rockers Tennessee Outlaw Country, Westin is arguably putting forth some of his best work to date in the form of a new single titled “Ghost Train.” Although much heavier and rock-oriented than his initial work has been, “Ghost Train” sees this player sounding more full-bodied in his execution than ever before, and potentially unlocking a side of his artistry that could fill a void for country/rock fans around the globe this spring.
The first thing that really grabbed my attention in this single wasn’t even the flair of the fretwork or the sizzle of the percussive heat in the center of the mix, but the chemistry that exists between these players when they’re seemingly vying for a small space in the spotlight. There’s certainly a competitive edge between the musicians in “Ghost Train” that facilitates even more thrills and chills than would have been present in a solo Matt Westin release, and I think each contributing artist in this piece is benefiting from the edginess of their counterparts. There hasn’t been a good collaboration out of the country underground this year, in my opinion at least, but this is one of the first to come to my attention worthy of an extra listen or two.
This lead vocal that Westin is hurling at us from the top of the mix is definitely melodic and meticulously arranged between the drums and the guitar parts, but it’s also able to keep up with – and, in some respects, create – the tempo in a way that constantly exudes this singer’s dominance over the performance. He’s the real star of this show, and as much as I dig the connection he develops with the other players in the mix, it’s ultimately his voice shaping the mood and tone of both the verses and the music designed to present them to us. This guy has the frontman sound down perfectly, and better yet, he doesn’t sound the last bit self-centered in his execution.
If this is on par with what we should be expecting to hear out of Tennessee Outlaw Country and Matt Westin in their future releases both together and separately, they’re both going to be gaining a lot of ground on the establishment in Nashville a lot sooner than later. This is a pivotal moment for the country genre, and perhaps one of the more important crossroads for hybrid music given all of the interest in crossover singles over the past few months, but if there’s one group prepared for all of the pressure ahead of them, I think it’s this one. With Matt Westin manning the controls, Tennessee Outlaw Country has found a winning formula in rock n’ roll and country music the same.
Kim Muncie