The Double Doghouse

hello folks! this week for the weekly review, we’re taking a look at a release from late 2022 by Tennessee country artist Adeem the Artist, White Trash Revelry.

Carolina opens the record with a very intimate introduction, breaking down the ways their family and home influenced and shaped them. extremely sweet and wistful opening. For Judas entwines the story of one of the most famous betrayals and an incredibly tender relationship. Heritage of Arrogance is a fairly large tonal shift, both sonicly and tonally, plunging right from the personal to the deeply political. it struggles with the type of reaction to discussions of racism that centers the individual feelings, rather than focusing on the problems and solutions themselves. got a real ramblin vibe that works with the sort of call to action that the track has. Painkillers & Magic takes a step back – slowing things down for a far more bittersweet reminiscing. Run This Town is twangier, and in some places bluesier, and it’s a blast. that energetic tone hides something sinister under the flashy showmanship, in the lyrics being the perspective of an opportunistic local politician. really dig this one. Baptized in Well Spirits is a neat track about balancing drinking and faith. the fiddle really kicks ass on this track. Middle of a Heart is heartbreaking – the way each verse puts a twist on the chorus, the different bullets and the different hearts. Going to Hell might be my favorite song on the record – the chorus is fucking excellent, and i love the carefree vibes here. plus the devil bargaining bits are fun. Redneck, Unread Hicks has a nice, stripped back sound – neat song on a fun topic, and i’ve known a lotta folks from rural areas that would back up Adeem here. Books & Records is another heartbreaker – a song about hope and sadness and making it through. ngl the line “i dont think we’ll ever retire / but the cast iron will be seasoned well by then” is good in the way that hurts. My America is a simple track, and i think is a very interesting attempt to explore a very specific kind of anxiety.

faves – Heritage of Arrogance, Run This Town, Going to Hell, Books & Records
dislikes –

i thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this record. it’s some really really quality country – as much as i am a fan of genre bending and pulling in other influences this plays it pretty down the middle musically, focusing on an incredibly clean execution. Adeem’s vocals also are a gem, a kind of well worn voice that’s hard not to take at face value. i think this record really shines lyrically, as it adeptly shifts between some really personal, open songs dealing with Adeem’s experiences and some really sharp, pointed tracks calling for change they want to see. i had a great time with this one – check it out for sure.

White Trash Revelry – 9/10

support the artist by checking this record out on Bandcamp

for the next Weekly Album Review, i’ll be checking out Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, a release from a few weeks ago by Chappell Roan. i’ll be back next Friday, October 13th with that review and to pick another weekly record, and in the meantime, let me know what album you’d like me to review! (i pool all suggestions in one place, and draw a person, then one pick from that person, so feel free to drop as many as you’d like! if you leave an email or username i’ll contact you when i’ve gotten through all your suggestions.)