If you haven’t listened to The Wilder Blue’s new album yet, you need to stop what you’re doing and change that.
Aptly titled in more ways than one, Cinco marks The Wilder Blue’s fifth record, and a welcomed extension to their sonically-sprawling catalog. Featuring 10 brand new tracks, the album weaves seamlessly between honky-tonk heaters, lyric-focused balladry, and timeless folk-rock tracks, completing another diverse effort for the band, held together by their signature five-part harmonies and clever lyricism.
In addition to where it falls in the lineage of the band’s catalog, the title Cinco also carries significance as it references the number of musicians in the band, all of whom contribute an irreplaceable aspect to the group and the new record. This notion is brought to the listener’s attention right off the bat, as the lead track “Sinners and Strays” centers around a ragtag outfit of bandits traversing the American West. The individuals in the crew may just be seen as outcasts or outlaws on their own, but they’ve got each others’ backs, and together, they can overcome any adversity they face.
That type of camaraderie and mentality has been the goal since day one for The Wilder Blue. The brainchild of frontman Zane Williams, who set out to form his dream band after a full solo career that featured seven albums of his own, The Wilder Blue was constructed with the intent of building a democratic musical endeavor. A cohesive entity in which egos are left at the door and individual talents and styles are channeled to do what’s best for the collective and for the sake of the song. The result, is one of the tightest, most unique bands in all of country music. Look no further than Cinco for proof.
Thematically, the album revolves around this sense of human connection. The ever-relevant country/western tropes associated with the rambling nature of life on the road are prominent as well, but more importantly, each song attacks the subject of connectivity from a different point of view. “When He’s Out of Sight,” for example, tells of a cowboy who seems to be on top of the world, but when he’s alone, it’s a connection he can’t shake with an old flame that fuels his loneliness. “Last Chance for Dancing” transports the listener straight to a Texas dancehall, where the Lone Star flows until the courage can be mustered to ask for a dance, and initiate the human connection everyone craves.
In “The Hunt,” my personal favorite track, the setting of a solo dove hunt on a “monochromatic morning” forces a busy narrator to slow down, triggering memories of old relationships and metaphorically confronting feelings of loneliness and complacency in life. A prime example of Williams’ masterful songwriting, this song paints a scene with descriptive lyricism and manages to convey a complex story without ever explicitly mentioning its theme.
To record the project, the band hunkered down at Sonic Ranch outside of El Paso to bring their latest run of ideas to life. Keeping their strong harmonies at the forefront of the sound, The Wilder Blue once again delivers an album that explores their wide range of musical influences. They always seem to have at least one track on every project that feels more “out there” than the remainder in terms of what you would expect from a band in the country scene, and on Cinco, that track is “Chasing the Sun.” With yacht rock-esque grooves that bring a funk edge to their sound, this track falls somewhere between Brooks & Dunn and Steely Dan on the sonic spectrum, and it serves as a great example of The Wilder Blue’s diverse sonic prowess.
The album comes to an end with its most poignant track, “Only the Years.” An autobiographical ballad that Williams wrote behind the wheel of the band’s bus one late night on the road, the song finds him reflecting on years gone by and expressing gratitude for all of the experiences and people along the way that have brought him and his band to this point. Older and wiser now than he had once been, Williams has overcome many of the insecurities and fears that hindered his perception of success and happiness. But now, with a band of brothers that get to traverse the country together and spread the music they love, there is plenty to be thankful for.
Checkout the tracklist for Cinco below.
Cinco Tracklist
Sinners and Strays
Last Chance for Dancin’
When He’s Out of Sight
Leavin’ Town
The Hunt
Wild Western Windblown Band
Texas Women (feat. Tracy Byrd)
Chasin’ The Sun
Good Woman
Only the Years
If you like what you heard on The Wilder Blue’s latest record Cinco, then I highly recommend getting out there and catching Zane, Paul, Sean, Andy, and Lyndon on the road. With killer harmonies, inspired instrumentation, and an electric live show, I can assure you it will be worth every penny.
The Wilder Blue Tour Dates
September 4—Whitehouse, TX—Blackhawk Creek Grill & Venue
September 5—Fredericksburg, TX—Everybody’s Somebody Fest
September 6—Fort Worth, TX—Billy Bob’s*
September 11—Chicago, IL—Garcia’s
September 13—St. Paul, MN—Turf Club
September 15—Madison, WI—High Noon Saloon
September 16—Milwaukee, WI—Vivarium
September 17—Bloomington, IN—The Bluebird
September 18—Springfield, OH—The State Theater
September 19—Noblesville, IN—The Arena at Innovation Mile
September 25—Lewisville, TX—Lewisville Western Days
September 26—Artesia, NM—Red Dirt Black Gold Festival
October 1—Durant, OK—Discover Durant Downtown Concert Series
October 3—Beaver Dam, KY—Stomp and Holler
October 10—New Bern, NC—MumFest
October 17—San Juan Capistrano, CA—Boots in the Park
October 18—Tucson, AZ—Boots In The Park Tucson
November 6—Pioneertown, CA—Pappy & Harriet’s+
November 7—Santa Ana, CA—Observatory+
November 8—Paso Robles, CA—BarrelHouse Brewing Co.+
November 10—Monterey, CA—Golden State Theatre+
November 13—Sacramento, CA—Ace of Spades+
November 14—San Francisco, CA—The Castro Theatre+
November 20—Oklahoma City, OK—Beer City Music Hall
*with Band of Heathens
+with Paul Cauthen
