The Talco Tapes (Explicit)

Treaty Oak Revival revisit some of their best-loved tracks on this stripped-down acoustic collection, which pulls material from the Odessa, Texas, act’s first two full-length albums, 2021’s <i>No Vacancy</i> and 2023’s <i>Have a Nice Day</i> and tosses in a cover for good measure. Known for their rough and rowdy approach to country rock, the band still sounds raw and potent with these toned-down arrangements, which offer a little more space for lead vocalist Sam Canty to wrench emotion out of the songs’ often narrative lyrics. Recorded at the SoundBank Studios in Talco, Texas, <i>The Talco Tapes</i> kicks off with “I’m the Worst”, a fan favourite that, in this incarnation, sounds twangier than its sludgy studio counterpart. “Boomtown” swaps the Tom Petty influence of the original for a more Red Dirt sound, with pristine pedal steel cutting through acoustic guitar. “Ode to Bourbon” dials up the harmonies, and “Fishnets” gets a touch of tenderness that suits the song’s complicated story. The band rounds out the project with a cover of The Goo Goo Dolls’ 1995 smash “Name”, turning in a faithful performance that retains the emotional intensity of the original.