Tylor & The Train Robbers: Best of the Worst Kind
Tylor Ketchum of, Tylor & The Train Robbers, has self-produced and written one of the absolute best storytelling albums in recent times. The album, Best of the Worst Kind, is a twelve track, all original, masterpiece that was recorded and mixed by Don Cunningham at Cunningham Audio Production in Boise, Idaho. Not only do we have an album review for this magnificent piece of work, but Oklahoma Reviews was also at the album release show in Idaho, and we have the photos to prove how kickass the night was for this band on the rise.
Photo Courtesy of @TimSchmidt
All twelve songs on the album are written by front man, Tylor Ketchum, with track seven being a cowrite with John Pisano. The first listen that I had of this album was a “holy shit” moment. I thought immediately to myself that “these guys have made arguably one of the best storytelling albums in recent times.” It is that damn good. Every song is a story that draws you in like you are living within the lyrics and life of Tylor Ketchum. It has a very special old country and western feel in not only the music, but as an entire production. I could see myself riding along horseback with Black Jack Ketchum or listening to the stories of the “Storyteller” by a campfire.
“Stories come along / They can stick around until the storyteller is gone / Trouble is / We can still remember / But we could never tell it the way they did.” “Storyteller” is a song that has a very strong connection to any listener that has or had that relative in the family with the special gift to grab anyone’s attention with their storytelling ability. For Tylor, that person was his papa. The tune has that sweet, sad sound of the pedal steel throughout, as if it is used to set a somber mood. A mood in which Tylor very much misses the stories that were told by his grandpa. Stories that he will continue to tell, until his time is through. “I’ll tell these stories until I’m dead / Because that’s exactly what my grandpa did / Wish you could have heard it / He told them a whole lot better.”
One of my absolute favorite songs on the album is track six, “Ballad of Black Jack Ketchum.” Hot damn! The tune will take you for a ride in a time machine back to the days of the Old West. For Tylor, this tune again has a very special and personal connection. It is a non-fictional account of outlaw Black Jack Ketchum. “How is it possible to feel so connected to someone that has been dead for over 100 years? Ever since I named the band Tylor & the Train Robbers, I have felt an unexplainable urge in the back of my mind to share the story of the true meaning behind the name. I had no idea it would take over 5 years to do it in the way I wanted to, but here we are”-Tylor Ketchum. The well above average song writing and storytelling ability of Tylor is on full display throughout this ballad. A tune that I couldn’t help but listen to over and over.
The third and final song that we want to highlight on this twelve-song gem is, “Few and Far Between.” This tune is a love story about a man that is always gone. The interpretation of the tune can go a number of ways, depending on the listeners own life experiences. For me, it is about a man that is by his woman’s side, but not always there in a mental capacity. “It’s hard for a woman like me / Being with a man like you / There’s so much gone to be / And being gone is all you do.” The song is a duet with Tylor Ketchum and his future wife, Jennifer Pisano. You will want to listen to her sing this tune over and over again. Another absolutely amazing piece of work. This album is and will be on our rotation for a very long time to come. Go support this group and get your copy ASAP!
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Musicians:
Tylor Ketchum Rhythm Guitars, Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Claps
Jason Bushman Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals, Claps
Johnny “Shoes” Pisano Lead Guitar, Baritone Guitar, Mandolin
Flip Perkins Drums, Tambourine, Claps
Brian Davies Pedal Steel
Jennifer Pisano Backup Vocals, Duet Vocals
Melissa Wilson Cello #1
Bernie Reilly Cello #2
Special Thanks to Tim Schmidt Photo for the photos from the album release party: