Cowboys in the Campfire have pretty much everything anyone could hope for in an Americana album. The folk and country elements mesh well with the storytelling. But they go beyond that and explore some other areas as well, making for a well-rounded album that’s true greatness hits in the second or third listen. The band consist of Tommy Stinson (The Replacements, Bash & Pop, Guns n Roses, Soul Asylum), collaborator Chip Roberts with John Doe (X), and other friends contributing to the album.
Cowboys in the Campfire don’t add more than what the song calls for. Everything is basically simplified, giving the vocals a chance to soar. The music fits together nicely with arrangements that are absolutely beautiful. While there is some lush instrumentation, they never give the song more than it needs. Drums and percussion are minimal, but not all that missed. There is a big twang element that becomes clearer with each passing listen.
Cowboys in the Campfire, which was a concept for about a decade before taking shape, took their name from a couple of Roberts’ paintings. They recorded the first half of the album in Texas with producer Christine Smith. The rest of the songs were completed at Stinson’s New York home. Wronger has a flow to it that sounds like everything was recorded together on the same day. The songs all sound like an updated throwback album. It would have the same place if released in any decade prior.
At 30 minutes long, Wronger gets right to the point of catchy and memorable songs with no filler. They don’t waste any precious musical seconds, giving their best effort with each passing measure.
Listening to Wronger releases comforting endorphins. Cowboys in the Campfire have written an absolutely beautiful album that is a joy to listen to. The songwriting duo of Stinson and Roberts put on a master class in crafting a solid tune.
