Songs really don’t come much better than “It’s Alright Just to Beâ€. The acoustic ballad starts with a random encounter between the singer and a drunk man at a bar. As the man’s heartbreaking story emerges, the singer considers the false assumptions he made about the man. A musical pause transitions the song into a reflection on his own life choices, the consequences and the search for contentment.  It’s the kind of track that quietly commands your attention and rewards it with a somber grace.
That combination of humanity and authenticity permeates Sell the Farm by Isaac Hoskins. “1942†finds Hoskins ruminating on an old photo. “I found a photograph of two people in love in a creaky old cedar chest,†he sings, “taken before the second big war they were in their Sunday best.â€Â He proceeds to juxtapose a failed contemporary relationship with the imagined story of the photographed couple, concluding “They don’t make love the way they did in 1942.â€
Hoskins displays his honky-tonk credentials, again with a rarified authenticity, on songs like the opening 1-2 punch of “One More Drink†and “I Make My Living in a Tavernâ€. While the song titles illustrate their barroom settings, the lyrics and pedal steel accompaniment portray a singer looking at a life beyond the bottle. For those who think honky-tonks are meant for dancing, Hoskins has you covered there to – “Pickin’ ‘Em Up & Puttin’ ‘Em Down†will get even the most reluctant foot a tappin’.Â
“Man on a Train†is a splendid blend of country and soul, complete with horns and both a lyrical and musical reference to the late Sam Cooke. Hoskins’ also pays homage to his friend Chip Robinson of Raleigh’s legendary The Backsliders with a faithful rendition of that band’s classic “Throwin’ Rocks at the Moonâ€.
If you’re getting the sense that there is something special about Sell the Farm, then you’re right. Twangville is honored to premiere “It’s Alright Just to Beâ€. The album will be generally available tomorrow. Seek it out – you’ll be well rewarded.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.