Top Western singer, songwriter, and musician Mike Beck's
Feel is deceptively spare in its packaging,
strikingly pure in its execution: pure cowboy, pure
acoustic, and pure art. The often mellow-yet-complex songs
are infinitely satisfying in their depth.
Feel showcases Mike Beck's guitar wizardry as well as
his songwriting magic. Most of the tracks are originals,
with the exception of a collaboration with Ian Tyson ("In
Old California") and an arrangement of Jack Thorp's "Chopo"
("Poncho"), which he introduces as "For the cow horse,
Pancho."
Mike Beck's music is rooted in folk and cowboy music
traditions, but beyond that his work defies categorization.
And his great guitar band, The Bohemian Saints (not included
on this solo acoustic CD) knock down all fences with their
own brand of Americana rock. Of this album,
Beck has written, "I decided I wanted to do an album of
a few new songs I've written and some of my other cowboy
songs that people have requested...."
Among the old favorites are his frequently-covered grand
anthem to the West, "Don't Tell Me"; the evocative and
bittersweet pull-of-a-place "Mariposa Wind"; and "Amanda
Come Home," about a young female soldier deployed to Iraq.
That song got much national attention and was featured on
National Public Radio in the The Western Folklife Center's
What's in a Song series (find the broadcast
here).
The song written with Ian Tyson, "In Old California," is a
tribute to Jo Mora (1876-1947), legendary cowboy, artist,
writer, and photographer (and more) whose art graces the CD
cover. "In Old California" and "Don't Tell Me" were named as
two of today's thirteen best songs by Western Horseman
in April, 2009, along with selections by Ramblin' Jack
Elliott, Ian Tyson, Gary McMahan, Dave Stamey, Tom Russell,
and just a few others.
Mike Beck writes as eloquently as anyone ever has about real
cowboy life in "Closer to the Light" and in "Rubin's Song."
In the first, he limns the romance and transformation that
can be found in that life—always without sentimentality but
full of honest sentiment—"The
young and old, the meek and bold....some boys are green as
grass, some best hands you ever saw/ones leavin' a broken
marriage, others runnin' from the law/you can't stow away on
a sea-bound ship, and the circus quit comin' to town/so you
pack your gear and you head out of here....you're runnin'
from the fences, and you're holdin' on real tight....so
shine boys, shine, a little closer to the light...."
Literally from inside his subjects, "Don't Hurt My Heart"
and "Patrick" are pieces written
from horses' point of view. "Patrick" is a tribute to noted
horseman Bill Dorrance; Mike Beck lived at the Dorrance
ranch and gained much of his early experience with horses
and ranch work there.
Nothing is predictable here. "Before the Moon Fell Down" is
an aching depiction of loss. "Alberta Cowgirl" celebrates
the hardy species with unabashed admiration. Not only do the
themes of the album's songs cover a broad spectrum, but
what's inside is unfailingly perceptive. The standout "Livin'
in the Arts" refers to Van Gogh, Hank Williams, Richard
Brautigan, Lane Frost, Beethoven and others. It's a
completely original insight into what it takes to survive an
artist's life, informed by what must be Mike Beck's own
upbeat strategy for survival.
Cowboys, cowgirls, horses, heartbreak, happiness, hope, a
deep allegiance to the real West...and that guitar. Fans
couldn't ask for more.
Feel is available for $12.97 plus postage or
as a download for $11
here from
CD Baby (where there are sample tracks). Find more about
Mike Beck at
www.mikebeck.com where there are full-track audio
downloads from other CDs, videos, and more.
