Not all folk records are full protest, not all indie records are downtempo sad songs, and not all pop country is bad. A record like Dillon Vanders’ Wildfires reminds us why it’s important to avoid prejudgment, and remember that sometimes we have to keep our ears open, and our mouths closed here and there. A record that feels like it fits in the “country” genre loosely, it also tells the tale of Vanders’ experience in the SoCal indie scene, splashing in folk with its lyrical focus and gritty vocals. The ambience of steel and the poke of compressed lead guitar throughout the record pays homage to the relationship between folk and country, while still sounding fresh.