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Texas in the Twilight by Paul Metsa
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fave it Modern Folk | Country Folk
15 tracks | 50 minutes
Released Feb 2005
on LoudHouse Records
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for a 30-second preview. All tracks are 192kbps high fidelity sound quality. Protected WMA $0.77 or unprotected MP3 $0.88.
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:23 Slow Justice lyrics BUY MP3 03:23 Slow Justice lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:23 Slow Justice
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:24 Kisses In The Wind lyrics BUY MP3 03:24 Kisses In The Wind lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:24 Kisses In The Wind
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:43 Party To A Crime lyrics BUY MP3 02:43 Party To A Crime lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:43 Party To A Crime
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:27 Fires Of Jerusalem lyrics BUY MP3 03:27 Fires Of Jerusalem lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:27 Fires Of Jerusalem
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:41 59 Coal Mines lyrics BUY MP3 04:41 59 Coal Mines lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:41 59 Coal Mines
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:30 Stars Over The Prairie lyrics BUY MP3 03:30 Stars Over The Prairie lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:30 Stars Over The Prairie
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:52 Floretta's Junkyard lyrics BUY MP3 02:52 Floretta's Junkyard lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:52 Floretta's Junkyard
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:20 Judas Sang The Blues lyrics BUY MP3 04:20 Judas Sang The Blues lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:20 Judas Sang The Blues
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:34 Another Man's Chains lyrics BUY MP3 03:34 Another Man's Chains lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:34 Another Man's Chains
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:19 Second Ave. Sunset lyrics BUY MP3 04:19 Second Ave. Sunset lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:19 Second Ave. Sunset
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:50 As Good As It Gets lyrics BUY MP3 04:50 As Good As It Gets lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:50 As Good As It Gets
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:49 Honeymoon In Drag Alley lyrics BUY MP3 02:49 Honeymoon In Drag Alley lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:49 Honeymoon In Drag Alley
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:59 When The World Breaks Your Heart lyrics BUY MP3 02:59 When The World Breaks Your Heart lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:59 When The World Breaks Your Heart
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:02 Robots On Death Row lyrics BUY MP3 04:02 Robots On Death Row lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:02 Robots On Death Row
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 00:05 Texas In The Twilight lyrics BUY MP3 00:05 Texas In The Twilight lyrics "GIFT MP3" 00:05 Texas In The Twilight
National Public Radio called Metsa "America's answer to Billy Bragg." RELIX says that, for fans of Graham Parker or Bruce Springsteen-type singer/songwriters, Metsa writes intricate storytelling songs with complex lyrics and rich melodies
Editorial review
Minnesota folksinger Paul Metsa made this archival recording on October 20, 1990, in a studio in Austin, TX. (Although it is described as a "live" recording, that does not connote a concert performance; the tracks simply were recorded "live in the studio," i.e., without overdubs.) He then seems to have taken the sole cassette made from the session home and forgotten about it until 14--years-later, when he was looking for something to release to mark his 25th anniversary as a performer. Loud House Records was sufficiently impressed by it to give him one of his few releases not issued solely by his own Raven Records label. And, in fact, it makes an excellent introduction to him, containing previously unheard, stripped-down versions of songs he has recorded before. This is just Metsa and his acoustic guitar (plus bongos and castanets here and there), and these are first takes; when he coughs at one point, he just keeps on going. Metsa has one of those singer/songwriter voices that manage to hit a narrow range of notes but possess nothing in the way of polish. When he pushes, his singing gets gravelly. And his playing is mostly simple strummed chords. What matters is his lyrics, which range from strident expressions of liberal politics ("Slow Justice") to laments about lost love ("Kisses in the Wind"), and that's just in the first two tracks. Elsewhere, he displays a good feel for the down-and-out lifestyle of life's more unfortunate people, returning over and over to characters who are just barely holding on with dead-end jobs and petty crime. His songs are heard most clearly in this bare-bones format, but this should be no more than an introduction to him. He comes off better with fuller arrangements that realize the country and blues suggestions in his material. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
Paul Metsa is a legendary singer-songwriter and musician from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since 1984, Metsa has released 11 original projects on Raven Records, and won eight Minnesota Music Awards. The Utne Reader called Metsa "Springsteen with a Midwestern twang." He has also received glowing reviews in Spin, Billboard, Cashbox, Relix, and CMJ. National Public Radio called Metsa "America's answer to Billy Bragg."
The release of Texas in the Twilight, from a recently discovered session, will no doubt once again raise Metsa's profile in the consciousness of those that love what the Austin Chronicle called "American Street Poetry."
Texas in the Twilight came about when Paul was looking for something to release in conjunction with his 25th anniversary of playing and recording. Searching through his vault, he discovered a cassette tape he had forgotten existed.
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