After being nominated for a Grammy in early 2020 for the debut album of his group, Che Apalache, Joe Troop had plans. When the pandemic hit, though, he pivoted to work alongside the everyday heroes he writes songs about, most notably a migrant assistance program on the border with Mexico. In his spare time he recorded a solo album that highlights stories he heard there, as well as reflecting his get-out-the-vote work and his time in Argentina. With the spirit of great folk protest songs, Borrowed Time adds Troops’ worldly musical style to underscore his messages.
Prisonero is a romantic Spanish ballad that’s timeless in its style, while Sevilla is maybe the only banjo flamenco song you’ll ever hear. (Troop lived in Spain, too.) Django’s Palace channels the gypsy sound of perhaps the best ever European jazz guitarist. Horizon has a syncopated percussion line with an uneasy beat that sonically aligns with the hypocrisy of blaming everyone else for environmental problems. Hermano Migrante is, to my ear, a little more Norteno than South American and although it’s sung in Spanish, the single line of English makes the message clear.
In addition to his international influence, Troop is also a damn fine bluegrass musician. He teams up with Tim O’Brien and Nokosee Fields on a couple of traditional numbers. Love Along the Way is an upbeat tune about loving your (figurative) brother. Red, White & Blues is a tongue-in-cheek observation about life in America working for the man. Purdy Rainbows has a strong jazzy flair, no doubt influenced by Charlie Hunter on guitar, and sends a message of support to those growing up gay in rural America. The most powerful song on the record, Mercy For Migrants, was inspired by Troop seeing the remains of a 16-year-old in the Sonoran desert. It features Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck, and conveys a musical prayer that this shouldn’t have to happen.
When I wrote about Che Apalache back in 2019 I commented that I had never heard so many different styles so seamlessly melded into bluegrass. If anything, Joe Troop has stepped up his game since then. Between his musical virtuosity and his community organizing skills, he’s a force to be reckoned with. He managed to combine those lives in Borrowed Time. If you missed the Che Apalache boat, don’t let this one sail without you.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.