Colter Wall: Songs Of The Plains

Songs of the Plains - Colter Wall

A Vinyl Me, Please Pressing Worth the Hunt
In an era where authentic country music feels increasingly rare, Colter Wall emerges as a steadfast guardian of the genre's dusty roots. The Canadian troubadour's reverence for the masters—Cash, Guthrie, Van Zandt, and Williams—isn't mere imitation but rather a deep understanding of what made their music transcendent. His sophomore effort, Songs of the Plains, represents both artistic maturation and a partnership with Vinyl Me, Please that resulted in one of the year's most coveted pressings.

The Package
VMP's treatment of Songs of the Plains demonstrates why collector editions matter when done right. The orange vinyl variant immediately catches the eye, evoking the amber hues of prairie sunsets that permeate Wall's songwriting. More importantly, the old-style tip-on jacket construction speaks to both aesthetic consideration and practical durability—a throwback to an era when album packaging was crafted to last decades rather than months.

Pressing Quality & Mastering
Thirty Tigers deserves considerable praise for their mastering work here. From the needle drop, it's evident this pressing was approached with the reverence Wall's material demands. Surface noise is virtually nonexistent across both sides, allowing listeners to sink into the album's contemplative spaces without distraction. The vinyl lies perfectly flat—no warping issues that plague too many modern pressings—and the overall presentation suggests genuine care in the manufacturing process.

Sonic Performance
While Wall's compositions may appear deceptively simple on paper, the pressing reveals layers of nuance that lesser treatments might obscure. His weathered baritone sits precisely where it should—front and center—without overwhelming the accompanying instrumentation. The guitar work, whether fingerpicked ballads or driving rhythms, maintains striking clarity that allows every string bend and harmonic overtone to breathe.

The soundstage, though not expansive by contemporary standards, serves the material perfectly. This isn't music that demands panoramic stereo effects; instead, it benefits from the intimate, focused presentation that makes you feel like you're sitting across from Wall in some dimly lit honky-tonk. Dynamic range remains intact throughout, preserving the natural ebb and flow of performances that clearly prioritize authenticity over compression.

The Vinyl Verdict
Songs of the Plains stands as both a triumph of traditional songcraft and exemplary vinyl production. For collectors who appreciate when label, artist, and pressing plant align their efforts toward a common goal, this VMP edition represents everything a special release should be. The scarcity factor among Wall's fanbase and vinyl collectors speaks to its immediate appeal, but the lasting value lies in how successfully it preserves and presents music that honors country's greatest traditions while remaining unmistakably contemporary.

This release for Vinyl Me, Please by Thirty Tigers, which is the same as the regular release (minus packaging and colored vinyl), is an excellent record and essential listening for anyone serious about modern country music, pressed with the care it deserves. 💰

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