CD Review: Koreatown - By N.L. Belardes
More country than the Jayhawks, less alternative country than Wilco, Grant Langston’s rockin’ CD, Koreatown is right where he needs it to be: hanging on the forefront of the LA alt country scene with a country face all its own. Once again we’re reminded why Los Angeles was dubbed the ‘New Nashville West’ and Bakersfield re-dubbed the ‘Old Nashville West’ by nlbelardes.com in 2005.
Country has gone missing from the old lands of the Bakersfield Sound where streams of Buck and Merle hits once filled the airwaves like endless herds of Texas cattle. The new breed of country is alternative-sounding and much of it is imported from Los Angeles, that city of quartz, with albums like Koreatown bent on leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Close on the heels of Koreatown is Merle Jagger’s self-titled CD soon to hit the shelves with its instrumental alternative country stylings of yesteryear’s fast-picking session playing and country shows of the LA country1950s circuit. LA’s recent resurgence in country radio shows and country music make for a new heyday and a New Nashville West. Koreatown is just another great album in such an evolution of sound. Critics are sure to review Grant Langston’s latest work as a catchy pop-centric alt country tribute to crushing love and the impact of urban LA on the milieu of socialites living neck-to-neck on the streets of LA and its suburbs.
Koreatown song reviews:
“Divorce Number One” melds country beats and rhythms and themes with a rocking Dwight Yoakam feel that transforms into a rocking alt country song on the verge of drunken relationship bitterness. “I thought that Jesus was the answer. So I prayed hard every day… Jesus and the sheriff can’t stop your crazy ways…” The end of the song turns driving riff-filled rock song, which is total alt country in feel.
A drinking theme finds its way into Grant’s storytelling with “Drunken Prince Charming”, a story about what men want to be for their ladies, and often are, though kicked in the ass for such behavior. Grant’s writing is sarcastic but honest: We can only offer who we are, so take the good and the bad in us, ladies. You never know which part of us might save you.
My favorite song off the CD is “Koreatown”, a drifting slow song with acoustic etchings upon a soft alt country canvas painted by Grant’s soft vocals and engaging lyrics:
“She woke up early one Minnesota morn; and in her dreams that night a star was born; so she quit the diner and left the farm to move out to Hollywood… When she got to the gates of town. They had taken that Hollywood sign down and in its place she found ‘Welcome Koreatown’… All the stars on Western Boulevard they welcome you tonight cause they know you got nowhere else to go. And Hollywood can’t always be the man of your dreams, sugar. Koreatown don’t ever need to know. Well our heroine wasn’t born yesterday. She searched high and low from Glendale to that Santa Monica Bay. But the harder she searched the faster it slipped away. All the stars on Western Boulevard they welcome you tonight cause they know you got nowhere else to go. And Hollywood can’t always be the man of your dreams, sugar. Koreatown don’t ever need to know. They came to her town and showed her around. The city that was shiny as gold. But when she got here, it all disappeared. Minnesota never felt so cold. Where is that goddam city of gold. That city of gold was more like a bathroom stall. In the top of the tower behind a moat and a wall. And it’s outside Vancouver if you can find it at all. So welcome Koreatown… And Hollywood can’t always be the man of your dreams, sugar. Koreatown don’t ever need to know.”
“Walk to Georgia” has a great chorus and guitar riff hook just like all the songs off Koreatown, even better than past Langston Cds, with this song with a fun pop culture reference to George Castanza and that entire Seinfeld generation who just might be into a country song or two… The guitar bridge reminds me of how country-sounding I always wanted Wilco to be… “It’s a long walk to Georgia. Baby I know, I know, I know, I know, I know…” Yes we’ve all been there in a relationship or two that was/is as difficult as walking to Georgia and back, and back again…
I expected Merle and Buck to appear on “Baby it’s Raining”, “Pity Party” and the cover of Merle Haggard’s often covered “Working Man Blues”, all songs with a strong country flavor, as heavy as any country on the album, including heavy drinking down-on-your-luck pity party workin’ man choruses. Definitely country songs through and through.
Trying to stay in a relationship no matter what people around are saying is always tough. The stubbornness and blindness of a fightin’ couple is the theme of “Prove Them Wrong”. Reminds me of three relationships I have been in. None of them ended up in fistfights, though this song makes me wish they had. Almost seems like it would have been normal if sung by Grant Langston’s smooth story-time singing with words like, “All I know is that I love you and have loved you for so long…” sung right after imagery of two redneck lovers bustin’ chops.
“I’m the worst kind of fool. At the tables I’m heartless and cruel. I can win at any hand.” Even Wilco had “Casino Queen”. Koreatown wouldn’t be the same without a good gamblin’ love song. Heck, all alt country needs such a tune.
“Rub it in” picks up a grinding country pace with a short burst of rocking sounds that are sure to pick up Langston’s live performance with some gritty riffs and tough-as-hell lyrics and singing. I really like the pace of this song and the message, “You’re like a hand grenade without the pin. You’ve got to leave a mark and rub it in.” Damn. I think I still know her.
“My booty is what you are after. I guess you struck out at the bar.” “Three Dollar Whore” is a funny as hell drinking and card-playing song. Now why did Langston put two covers on this CD? “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” is a good song, but I prefer the Langston-created tunes, even the graveyard song, “Digging Graves”, that makes me think of dying with my boots on, which my cowboy dad actually did. And he said he would too which was always the strangest part. I dig the whining fiddle like a wailing ghost at midnight.
Grant Langston is no newcomer, his work has been around for some time in a string of albums: All this and Pecan Pie, Chinese Fire Drill, Road Side Service and now Koreatown, a must-have CD for alt country collectors. It’s a fresh and rocking addition to faithful country sounds and raucous country guitar licks. Pick it up and come see Grant Langston and the Supermodels at Fishlips in Bakersfield January 27, Grant Langston’s first American gig promoting Koreatown after a brief tour in the U.K and France.
Country has gone missing from the old lands of the Bakersfield Sound where streams of Buck and Merle hits once filled the airwaves like endless herds of Texas cattle. The new breed of country is alternative-sounding and much of it is imported from Los Angeles, that city of quartz, with albums like Koreatown bent on leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Close on the heels of Koreatown is Merle Jagger’s self-titled CD soon to hit the shelves with its instrumental alternative country stylings of yesteryear’s fast-picking session playing and country shows of the LA country1950s circuit. LA’s recent resurgence in country radio shows and country music make for a new heyday and a New Nashville West. Koreatown is just another great album in such an evolution of sound. Critics are sure to review Grant Langston’s latest work as a catchy pop-centric alt country tribute to crushing love and the impact of urban LA on the milieu of socialites living neck-to-neck on the streets of LA and its suburbs.
Koreatown song reviews:
“Divorce Number One” melds country beats and rhythms and themes with a rocking Dwight Yoakam feel that transforms into a rocking alt country song on the verge of drunken relationship bitterness. “I thought that Jesus was the answer. So I prayed hard every day… Jesus and the sheriff can’t stop your crazy ways…” The end of the song turns driving riff-filled rock song, which is total alt country in feel.
A drinking theme finds its way into Grant’s storytelling with “Drunken Prince Charming”, a story about what men want to be for their ladies, and often are, though kicked in the ass for such behavior. Grant’s writing is sarcastic but honest: We can only offer who we are, so take the good and the bad in us, ladies. You never know which part of us might save you.
My favorite song off the CD is “Koreatown”, a drifting slow song with acoustic etchings upon a soft alt country canvas painted by Grant’s soft vocals and engaging lyrics:
“She woke up early one Minnesota morn; and in her dreams that night a star was born; so she quit the diner and left the farm to move out to Hollywood… When she got to the gates of town. They had taken that Hollywood sign down and in its place she found ‘Welcome Koreatown’… All the stars on Western Boulevard they welcome you tonight cause they know you got nowhere else to go. And Hollywood can’t always be the man of your dreams, sugar. Koreatown don’t ever need to know. Well our heroine wasn’t born yesterday. She searched high and low from Glendale to that Santa Monica Bay. But the harder she searched the faster it slipped away. All the stars on Western Boulevard they welcome you tonight cause they know you got nowhere else to go. And Hollywood can’t always be the man of your dreams, sugar. Koreatown don’t ever need to know. They came to her town and showed her around. The city that was shiny as gold. But when she got here, it all disappeared. Minnesota never felt so cold. Where is that goddam city of gold. That city of gold was more like a bathroom stall. In the top of the tower behind a moat and a wall. And it’s outside Vancouver if you can find it at all. So welcome Koreatown… And Hollywood can’t always be the man of your dreams, sugar. Koreatown don’t ever need to know.”
“Walk to Georgia” has a great chorus and guitar riff hook just like all the songs off Koreatown, even better than past Langston Cds, with this song with a fun pop culture reference to George Castanza and that entire Seinfeld generation who just might be into a country song or two… The guitar bridge reminds me of how country-sounding I always wanted Wilco to be… “It’s a long walk to Georgia. Baby I know, I know, I know, I know, I know…” Yes we’ve all been there in a relationship or two that was/is as difficult as walking to Georgia and back, and back again…
I expected Merle and Buck to appear on “Baby it’s Raining”, “Pity Party” and the cover of Merle Haggard’s often covered “Working Man Blues”, all songs with a strong country flavor, as heavy as any country on the album, including heavy drinking down-on-your-luck pity party workin’ man choruses. Definitely country songs through and through.
Trying to stay in a relationship no matter what people around are saying is always tough. The stubbornness and blindness of a fightin’ couple is the theme of “Prove Them Wrong”. Reminds me of three relationships I have been in. None of them ended up in fistfights, though this song makes me wish they had. Almost seems like it would have been normal if sung by Grant Langston’s smooth story-time singing with words like, “All I know is that I love you and have loved you for so long…” sung right after imagery of two redneck lovers bustin’ chops.
“I’m the worst kind of fool. At the tables I’m heartless and cruel. I can win at any hand.” Even Wilco had “Casino Queen”. Koreatown wouldn’t be the same without a good gamblin’ love song. Heck, all alt country needs such a tune.
“Rub it in” picks up a grinding country pace with a short burst of rocking sounds that are sure to pick up Langston’s live performance with some gritty riffs and tough-as-hell lyrics and singing. I really like the pace of this song and the message, “You’re like a hand grenade without the pin. You’ve got to leave a mark and rub it in.” Damn. I think I still know her.
“My booty is what you are after. I guess you struck out at the bar.” “Three Dollar Whore” is a funny as hell drinking and card-playing song. Now why did Langston put two covers on this CD? “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” is a good song, but I prefer the Langston-created tunes, even the graveyard song, “Digging Graves”, that makes me think of dying with my boots on, which my cowboy dad actually did. And he said he would too which was always the strangest part. I dig the whining fiddle like a wailing ghost at midnight.
Grant Langston is no newcomer, his work has been around for some time in a string of albums: All this and Pecan Pie, Chinese Fire Drill, Road Side Service and now Koreatown, a must-have CD for alt country collectors. It’s a fresh and rocking addition to faithful country sounds and raucous country guitar licks. Pick it up and come see Grant Langston and the Supermodels at Fishlips in Bakersfield January 27, Grant Langston’s first American gig promoting Koreatown after a brief tour in the U.K and France.
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Friday, January 13, 2006.
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