The Lost Trailers - Welcome To The Woods

Two years ago the Lost Trailers wouldn't have stood a chance on Country radio but thanks to the likes of Van Zant and dare I say, Big & Rich, radio and labels are taking more chances on "rough around the edges artists. "Welcome To The Woods" is the work of a confident band with a tight sound that fits current country music (and old 70s country-rock) like a glove. Give them a shot, they're certainly worth it.

In 2004 a CD came across my desk and I had no idea who it was by. I just thought the name of "The Lost Trailers" seemed interesting enough so I placed the CD in my stereo and what I heard intrigued me. What I heard was a mixture of southern rock, a slight bit of pop and a lot of country soul.

Produced by Veteran Producer David Bianco (who's worked with The Jayhawks, Tift Merritt, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Tom Petty among many others), "Welcome To The Woods" starts off with the trio of tracks "Longfall," "Down In The Valley" and "Atlanta" that clearly had the Nashville-based band trying to become the countrified version of the Counting Crows. "Walking Blind" is a track that features a keyboard made horn (By Keyboardist Ryder Lee) backing a lyric that can be interpreted to mean anything in life. "Averly Jane" is a fine bar room honky tonker about a sweet woman while "Love And War (In A Small Town)" is the "wow" song on the record. Written about the way a small town rallies around its own, this track, and "The Yellow Rose", are fine additions to the grand story-song tradition.

While "Welcome To The Woods" no doubt has a sound more suited for Adult Alternative or Americana radio stations as opposed to mainstream Country radio stations (stations which are playing their new stuff recorded for BNA Records), it's no doubt a fine introduction to a highly-respected, well-rounded group of musicians.