Treaty Oak Revival, one of the loudest, rowdiest acts in country music, just flipped the script with an album full of raw, stripped-down material. The Talco Tapes is a nine-track project with eight re-recordings of previously released songs and a cover of “Name” by The Goo Goo Dolls. With reimagined versions of fan favorites like “Ode To Bourbon” and “See You In Court,” the release shows a less in-your-face side to the band. While the recording may not have been as professionally executed as their studio work, the new sound makes for a satisfying listen, leaving room for the lyrics to speak.
If you’re a fan of Treaty Oak Revival, the sound on The Talco Tapes might be a surprise. Where there were once roaring electric guitars, there’s no room for fiddle, banjo, acoustic textures, and layered harmonies. The entire project was recorded live, so you’ll catch moments where the vocals drift slightly sharp, or the mix feels a little washed out, but that rawness is an intentional part of the charm.
“Fishnets” sounds totally different on The Talco Tapes, taking on a whole new life in the bare-bones setting. The familiar lead line, usually driven by electric guitar, is now played on fiddle, creating a quieter and more reflective mood. Written about a female prostitute who dreams of living a normal life, the song’s already tragic story hits even harder in this softer setting. At times, the band’s live presence can overshadow the intricacy of their lyrical content, but this release shows just how much thought and heart go into the writing itself.
Their cover of ‘Name’ by The Goo Goo Dolls fits the overall sound of the album, though instrumentally, it stays close to the original, even shifting into double-time at all the same points. It’s great to hear mandolin on this track, but like the rest of the record, it suffers from the recording quality, coming across as underproduced and unfinished. For the band’s first cover of any outside song, it is sort of a disappointment that it would be showcased in this way. It would be interesting to hear this cover reimagined in the future with the punch of the production in the band’s usual studio work.
“Ode To Bourbon” sticks out the most of all the reimagined tracks on this project. Fans already adore this song, and while it isn’t too far off from the original, a few slight changes in production make it special. For one thing, it’s a bit slower, and when the band drops out in the final chorus, the melody and harmony stand alone. The vocal production here is noticeably smoother than the original, perfectly complementing the stripped-down vibe. This one will likely be a fan favorite among all the tracks on The Talco Tapes.
Many Treaty Oak Revival fans will appreciate this album for what it is, but will they choose these reimagined versions over the originals they already know and love? Time will tell. This record shows the sheer talent in each bandmate, although, at times, it can sound duct-taped together. With no new original material, this is more of a passion project and avoids the risks of releasing new music, so any negative feelings toward these tracks can be set aside when revisiting the originals. On the other hand, these tracks might resonate more with country music fans who aren’t as drawn to the heavy guitar sound that Treaty Oak Revival usually brings.
Overall, The Talco Tapes showcases a brand new side of Treaty Oak Revival, making an excellent case for the lyricism and musical talent often masked by their loud, energetic presence. The album’s production doesn’t fully do the band justice, sounding duct-taped together and messy. Still, for a fully live-recorded album, it does its job, and it’s more exciting than a traditional live album release.
