Americana today has cultivated the strange tradition of treating authentic as an actual competitive sport. All must be more of a blue-collar, more battle-worn, more likely to possess at least three denim jackets than the one who preceded them. Somewhere along the line, “writing honest songs” transformed into a brand identity, as opposed to the entire reason for putting them on paper at all. Joe Rian eschews all of that posturing, simply by sounding as if he’s been there, done that, and lived a version of the life he’s writing about.
“Think Yer In Luv,” the title track and lead single from his forthcoming October album of the same name, doesn’t arrive with sweeping statements and poetic grand gestures, but instead settles into a worn, comfortable groove of folk, alt-country, and bar-band rock to craft a song that feels more about reintroducing the world to what Americana should be, as opposed to reinventing the genre itself.
Musically, “Think Yer In Luv” is delightfully laid-back; the guitars lilt forward in an easy warmth, and the rhythm section demonstrates a fundamental-and nowadays rare-concept: knowing when to get out of the way. It’s a smart arrangement, trusting in the strength of the melody to do the work rather than burying it under the weight of production. Grammy-winning mastering engineer Gavin Lurssen applies the finishing touches without over- polishing away all of the grit and texture.
But it’s the writing here that truly sings; not seeking out overwrought heartbreak or movie-style romances, but finding the wonder in the mundane. It’s in that respect where this song aligns with the best of Americana: where the most extraordinary stories are often found lurking behind a completely ordinary afternoon. We’re told the forthcoming album is in many ways about love, road trips, Friday nights, lemonade stands, and small-town memories, and this song hits that tone beautifully.
“Think Yer In Luv” won’t reinvent alt-country and doesn’t seem the least bit inclined to do so, but what it does offer is perhaps something of greater value: an honest, well-crafted song about finding a quiet grace in the big picture.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for various publications around the world, the former lead writer of review blogspace Atop The Treehouse and content creator for Manila Bulletin.
