Rancho Alto
Jason Boland & the Stragglers · 2011
48 min · 11 tracks · red dirt
A vivid blend of red dirt storytelling and honky-tonk melodies that captures the essence of American life and heartache.
Top tracks — play these first
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False Accuser's Lament — This track encapsulates the album's emotional depth, featuring intricate storytelling about betrayal that showcases Boland's lyrical abilities.
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Mary Ellen's Greenhouse — With its vivid imagery and nostalgia, this song reflects themes of longing and connection, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Farmer's Luck — Closing the album, this track combines an introspective narrative with a rich musical arrangement, leaving listeners with a lasting impression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong storytelling and traditional instrumentation, solidifying its place in red dirt music.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of storytelling lyrics that reflect personal and relatable themes across all tracks.
- Melodic structures often incorporate traditional honky-tonk elements, with prominent use of acoustic guitar and fiddle throughout.
- Several tracks employ a call-and-response vocal technique, enhancing the communal feel typical of red dirt music.
- The pacing varies, with mid-tempo songs dominating but interspersed with slower ballads that create emotional contrast.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Down Here in the Hole 3:10
- 2 Every Moment I'm Gone 5:05
- 3 False Accuser's Lament 4:27
- 4 Between 11 and 2 4:36
- 5 Pushing Luck 3:40
- 6 Fences 3:34
- 7 Mary Ellen's Greenhouse 3:47
- 8 Obsessed 4:13
- 9 Woody's Road 4:08
- 10 Forever Together Again 4:31
- 11 Farmer's Luck 6:47
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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