By Kaleb Bronson
Stretching the bluesy undertones with a heavy blast from the past via Van Morrison, The Belfast Cowboys have brought a rhythm-inducing soundtrack to groove to with “The Upside to the Downslide.”
The Belfast Cowboys may be known as a local bar band, but this album proves that they have depth that goes deeper than the sticky bar-floor surface. The soul sweats from each track, from high energy rock sessions to body swaying slow jams. This nine-piece not only focuses on Van Morrison, they also have an arsenal of original tracks to unleash.
This record shows diversity throughout, “I’ve Been Working,” the second track on album enters past decades to consume the true flavor of the Dan Kowalke’s guitar flavor and the crushing vocals of Terry Walsh. Each track pulls from each of the nine members, with every instrument adding a certain sprinkle of magic.
As the record continues, the horns keep it fresh like a musical summer salad, but the lyrics prove that the blues are prevalent within the “The Upside to the Downslide.” The album sets the listener back to a time when instrumentation was the key, with each note proving itself.
The best track on the album is much mellower, but “House for Sale” is a ticket to paradise. It’s a song about escaping from one’s home only to be set free. The tone is set-up like a train-hopper could sing this as an anthem, or maybe a Cabooze full of patrons (pun intended).
Overall, The Belfast Cowboys bring a peppered bluesy soulful album with “The Upside to the Downslide” to get listeners swinging and thinking about that next bar room dance step.
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