Death Rides West

Jon Solomon January 18, 2011 4:00AM

[
          {
            "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
            "component": "12017627",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "6"
          },
          {
            "name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content",
            "component": "12017623",
            "insertPoint": "2/3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
          },
          
          {
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "12017624",
            "insertPoint": "12",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "12017624",
            "insertPoint": "4th",
            "startingPoint": "16",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          }
          
            ,{
              "name": "RevContent - In Article",
              "component": "13027957",
              "insertPoint": "3/5",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
            }
          
        ]

The name of this recording (and of the band) perfectly fits the music found on it. Frontman Al Trout, whose deep baritone at times recalls a murky Lee Hazlewood, sings about ghosts, vampires, devils and outlaws. The EP's dusty tunes are steeped in sinister Americana. "Lonesome River" and "Inky Wine" are clearly inspired by the spaghetti-Western scores of Ennio Morricone, while the rhumba groove and twangy guitar of Cody Tantalo on "Crooked Path" share a certain kinship with the Tom Waits cut "Jockey Full of Bourbon." Although there are only three songs on the disc, it's a great portrayal of what Death Rides West is capable of in a live setting, as well as the ideal soundtrack for a Gothic Western.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls.

Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.