When
Royal Wade Kimes got into country music at a young age back in his home state of Arkansas, it did not take long for him to realize his passion. He journeyed to
the Music City to realize his aspiration. With nine studio albums now under his
belt, The gentleman outlaw comes at us with his latest album, “A Proud Land.” The
album is said to take the listener though time by the way of music. Indeed, many
songs reference a part of history such as the Civil War and the infamous Jesse
James through beautifully composed melodies that may grant a sense of nostalgia
for those who yearn for simpler albeit rougher times.
Most
tracks reference a period in the old American south. A few plucks of the banjo eases
the listener into track one, “Ride the Wagon Johnny.” The song speaks of a
youth who fought for Dixie during the Civil War. Journeying home after three
years of fighting a long and bloody war, this boy looks to get back to his
normal life, though this is bittersweet.
Although Johnny goes home, after all the shell-shock inducing
experiences he went through, there is a sadness that comes from the fact that
the cause he fought for was for naught. Although the war is over, the heart of
Dixie lives on through Johnny. A chorus accompanies Kimes in this track and
others and reverberates to remind the listener of old times as if they were
benign spirits of the past.
The
fifth track, “Is it the Name Jesse James” is in Jesse James’ perspective. In
his hometown,
James tries to live life like normal, but he is shunned by his fellow townsfolk
due to his infamous reputation. Friends James once thought he had are no more,
likely due to his recent history as an outlaw. The town is ridden with change
and finds living there less than sociable. The theme here is obviously the change
that can come from being away for so long, whether self-perpetuated or not. The
message here may be that although one may believe a town has changed, perhaps
it is the self who has changed the once beloved town.
One
track that stands out is track eight, “Northfield Town,” which has a 50s vibe
that one would
hear coming from a jukebox after Fonzie hit it in “Happy Days.” The central
motif here is roaming in uncharted territory. With a name like “northfield,” it
can relate to the city as “the city” is commonly associated with the northern
United States. Especially since a city can have a reputation of being dangerous
on its own unlike smaller towns. The track’s fast-paced, non-country sounding
tune also synchs in with the theme.
What
I enjoy most about the album is listening to the lyrics of each song. With most
of the songs being related to history, it is interesting to connect Kimes’
lyrics to what he is referencing. For example “Dixie Burns’” lyrics refer to
when Atlanta was set on fire. Overall, Kimes manages to execute the history
aspect well with excellent melodies and lyrics that keep the album running smoothly. You can purchase “A Proud Land” on iTunes. Also check out Royal Wade
Kimes’ website at royalwadekimes2.com.
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