Martin Zellar - Head West (2023) Hi-Res

Martin allows the wonderful Texas backup vocalist Presley Haile a lead vocal spotlight on the fascinating “Better Off Apart,” followed by Martin’s vocal answer. Beautifully rendered delicious duet. John Prine would’ve been proud. Their voices were perfectly suited. Ms. Haile’s vocals project with dazzle. Not as gruff as Lucinda Williams but a mix of Williams with the suavity of a Shawn Colvin or Mary Chapin Carpenter. It’s just simply well done.

The ballads are primarily heartfelt & sung with poignancy. Surprisingly, some songs lean & bristle heavily into Tex-Mex country. All done with expertise. “Goodbye Wild Bill” is a distant cousin to The Beatles’ “Rocky Racoon,” & “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill.”

Minnesota native Zellar goes deeper with the solidly melodic “Much More Than This.” Martin’s vocal when firmly in gear as here — tips the scales. Superb stuff. A lasting sense of personality in the composition is lifted by the acoustic guitar accompaniment.

Going a little John Denver & John Hartford is “Anyone But Me.” There are times Zellar’s voice has an urban city tone (Willie Nile) but applied with zest, his fluent country inflections keep it south of the border — frybread balladry, tasty & delicate. Then he skips effortlessly into Jimmy Buffett territory with “Big City Man,” & the danceable tune adds special sauce to the album.

Highlights – “The Road Led Here,” “Better Off Apart,” “We Ran Wild (Back in the day),” the beautiful “Boats Slowly Sinking,” “Goodbye Wild Bill,” “Much More Than This,” “Anyone But Me,” “Big City Man” & “Forty Years Along.”

“…writers, from Dylan to Springsteen, often tell us far more about the human condition by concentrating on life’s everyday moments. That’s the strength of Martin Zellar…” ~ Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times.