On ‘Alvarado,’ The Wild Feathers Serve Up Nostalgia Tempered by Awareness
Cillea Houghton
Posted On October 7, 2021
“Everybody’s got a story they’re trying to tell.” The Wild Feathers don’t merely speak this truth on their new album, Alvarado, but live it across 12 passionate songs.
As their debut album on new label home New West Records, the band’s fourth studio album was written and recorded in the span of two weeks in the seclusion of a cabin just outside Nashville. They channel the organic nature of this setting into a dozen tracks that offer a potent blend of Americana, Southern rock, and country music.
The band offers strong instrumentation throughout the project, opening with a mesmerizing guitar solo before Taylor Burns’ voice welcomes you in on the title track, immediately followed by a searing bite of Southern rock on “Ain’t Lookin’,” the lament of a burned lover proclaiming, “I ain’t lookin for love no more / ’Cause love is what you find when it ain’t what you looking for.”
Instrumentally, they take a calmer tone on “Over the Edge,” encouraging listeners to open their eyes, minds, and hearts not only to their own reflection, but the world around them. “Take a look at what happens to a country / When you turn it back to black and white / But you gotta look out to see the rainbow / You gotta look inside to see what’s right,” they allude over a melody that evokes the feeling of a ’90s rock song.
They remain in this introspective space on “Get Out of My Own Way,” hitting a poetic note as the main character promises that they’ll change their ways, willing to adapt and remove themselves as the problem and become part of the solution. “If you love me again / I promise that I’ll change and get out of my own way,” King sings with sincerity.
There’s a healthy level of awareness the Feathers maintain on the album, embracing a confessional, vulnerable spirit on “Off Your Shoulders,” giving a loved one the time and grace needed in order to be forgiven. The organ-led “Top of the World” offers a tranquil vibe as they observe the beauty and shadows of the world, vowing to reconnect with the person they love like the land meets the sea, while the nostalgic “Flashback” recalls a simpler era, encouraging us to hold on to precious time and the memories that come with it.
The band sends us off on a sunny note — literally — with a gently plucking acoustic guitar that feels like the sparkling sun shining through the trees on “Another Sunny Day.” Here, the band is intentional about finding the light among the darkness, moving forward from past pain and feeling simply grateful simply for the sun shining overhead, a joyful mandolin carrying forth the song’s spirit.
With Alvarado, The Wild Feathers unite awareness and nostalgia on the well-rounded record, honoring the value of past experiences while looking to the bright future ahead.
