Hard to believe it’s already been a year.
On September 16th, 2022, Koe Wetzel released his fourth solo studio album, “Hell Paso.”
The 13-track, 38 minute, record was recorded at the Sonic Ranch Studio and is his second major-label release under Columbia Records. As most of you are probably well-aware at this point, Koe is more rock than Country, but unlike when it comes to pop being referred to as Country music, we don’t give a sh*t. Koe has been claimed as one of our own for quite some time.
In fact, he faintly addresses that, before the sound of a bottle being smashed on the floor, on the ninth track, which is really just an interlude, titled “Cheers.”
“Here’s to everybody that’s goin’, ‘this isn’t country music, he don’t know what country music is… he’s such a disgrace to country music.’”
The album kicks off with “Creeps” and “April Showers,” two singles that were released before the album dropped, and features a wide variety of in-your-face, early 2000’s sounding rock, depressing tunes, and self deprecating humor that made Koe a superstar on his first three projects. Cause, you know…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The best song on the record, (if/when you’re in the mood to chug a fifth of whiskey and reflect on why you’re such a piece of sh*t) is “So Low.”
While “YellaBush Road” quickly became a fan-favorite on Hell Paso, the other tunes I find myself listening to most are “Money Spent,” “Oklahoma Sun,” “Better Without You,” “April Showers,” and “Sad Song.”
All in all, Hell Paso is one of those records you should play from start to finish, like we used to do before we could just conveniently skip around on streaming platforms courtesy of our smartphone. Some artists still place certain songs in specific spots and whether Koe did that or not, I’m not sure, but it almost feels like he did.
While this aint a review, I’ll still give it a solid 8/10.