Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Wealthy West
Volume One

Independent (2011) Aaron H

The Wealthy West – Volume One cover artwork
The Wealthy West – Volume One — Independent, 2011

The folk scene doesn’t get enough appreciation these days. Luckily, Mumford and Sons earned it some recognition when they performed at The Grammys. Now is the perfect time for Brandon Kinder, also know as The Wealthy West, to break out with his new EP simply entitled, Volume One.

The EP opens with, “Love is Not Enough,” which is like the antithesis to The Beatles’, “Love is All You Need.” It’s an upbeat track that’s awfully honest about the effects of love and how cavalier it is to put so much dependence on it. He contrasts the first song with the mellow number, “Another Bad Idea.” The following track, “Give Me Resurrection,” keeps with the soft melodies and smooth tone of Brandon’s vocals. The remaining tracks pick up the pace. “Home” introduces a female vocalist to help with the harmonies, and it really benefits the song. The closer, “Not a Pretty Pair,” has a great melody but lacks a little in the lyrical department. However, it’s still one of the better tracks.

The Wealthy West’s EP features 5-tracks of beautiful songs, and it’s perfect if you’re into artists like Bon Iver or Fleet Foxes. There's hopefully a "Volume Two" in the works already.

8.0 / 10Aaron H • April 25, 2011

The Wealthy West – Volume One cover artwork
The Wealthy West – Volume One — Independent, 2011

Recently-posted album reviews

Anna von Hausswolf

Iconoclasts
Year0001 (2025)

One of the most distinct voices of the current generation, Anna von Hausswolff's sound is wide and far-reaching. From dark ambient atmospherics and organ music fixation, to noise rock momentum and neo-classical arrangements, her music always balances a primordial ritualism and contemporary applications. It is an ongoing process, one that Anna has been refining over the years. In 2018, the … Read more

Radioactivity

Time Won't Bring Me Down
Dirtnap, Wild Honey Records (2025)

"When I've had enough of modern life, I go back to my analog ways." It's a simple quote, yet it captures so much about Radioactivity. It's been 10 years since the band released Silent Kill, and this time around the Jeff Burke-led group shows clear growth and change, while still capturing the same vibe as the previous two records. In … Read more

Tony Molina

On This Day
Slumberland Records (2025)

I went to a birthday party for my wife and six or seven other friends and acquaintances last night. I guess people liked having sex in January in the late 70s-early 80s? In Canada at least, that’s how we keep warm in the winter! Anyway, I was foraging at the smorgasbord with a couple former co-workers talking about my recent … Read more