Wolf van Elfmand - Don’t Call It Country (2024) Hi-Res

I love music that comes from sources like this. Wolf’s name is not quite country in heritage & the artist is from Brooklyn, NY which is also not the center of any powerful outlay of country music. Nonetheless, the man known as Wolf van Eflmand is genuine. He does look like he spent lots of time in a sawdust saloon, or on a saddle wearing chaps & chewing Beechnut.

But on stage, he has explored many prairies – from the many realms of Americana to finger-picking country-inflected songs to pure rock n’ roll. And the tips of his fingers probably show those callouses. I can’t account for his butt in that saddle. Like I said, he’s from Brooklyn.

The opening songs draw on traditional country melodic arrangements with lots of pedal steel & oompah-pah beat. It’s a well-produced sound since the recording is pristine. “Big Ol’Binge,” as cliched as that sounds is quite creative since it doesn’t sing through with typical country rhymes. Lots of clever lines & Wolf van Elfmand knows his way around country themes.

The 9-striking & fluid tunes that make up the frontier of Don’t Call It Country were produced by Wolf (vocals/acoustic & electric guitar) & Ben Waligoske (pedal steel).

The tune “No Reason Why,” pulls gently on a melodic line from the classic “You Win Again,” – sung with a little sad angst it’s done with generous amounts of country aesthetics. Wolf has a good country voice & ample Hank Williams tonality & his songs are performed with a good balance of precision & looseness. He also mixes his bag of tunes with a short but affirming instrumental with a clean sawing violin on “Doc’s Rag.” The musicians are seasoned since they play flawlessly.

The title track is a bit on the country-novelty horizon. Wolf sings with a bit of a Roger Miller inflection. This is everything jazz drummer Buddy Rich probably hated about country music. Which makes me like it even more. People need to have fun with their music. Wolf maintains his showcase a few feet away from silliness.

This isn’t Steve Earle or David Allan Coe but if you like Hank Williams & Kinky Friedman stirred in with some Roger Miller humor this’ll satisfy. “Wandering,” is excellent & “This & That,” is rockabilly via a Webb Wilder/Leon Russell recipe – just don’t call it country.