Trio of Awesuhm - cowboys&aliens

Trio of Awesuhm

​cowboys&aliens
self-released; 2018

​3.7 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Let me start off by saying I like the music from the album cowboys & aliens by Trio of Awesuhm quite a bit. That being said the name Trio of Awesuhm made me slightly cringe and feel like it would be a disservice to the band if I didn’t say anything. So just food for thought that maybe these great musicians who I’m sure are wonderful people should maybe consider changing their name. The group for live shows is comprised of Monica Uhm (vocals/guitar), Greg Schettino (guitar/vocal), Sammy Wags (piano/organ), Ken Dircks (bass/guitar) and James Kirkpatrick (drums) are quite talented so don't let the name dissuade you.

The album starts with “Last Night” which is a pretty straightforward alternative/rock song. It’s well written and in less than a minute you get to the hook. Uhm has a good singing voice all around but I felt like it worked especially with this style.

There is more to appreciate on “Storyline” which is upbeat, funky and quite catchy. The guitar work is inventive, the drumming is tight and there is all around great performances.

I remember after meditating on a silent retreat on the peak on a mountain that the message to “Love Everybody” kept ringing through my mind. I was on board except for the fact I had real hard time forgiving my neighbor who is now married to my ex-wife. The song is “Love Everybody” is a super catchy song with some great instrumentation and hooks but the fluffy platitudes scattered throughout the song weren’t that easy to stomach.

“Begging The Radio” is a poppy rock song but I preferred the more emotionally resonant “Just Hurting” which showcases a more nuanced and dynamic vocal performance. “Nevertheless” felt a little too predictable for my liking. “After The Show” however has some exceptional performances and the country angle worked out very well.

“Adios” tried to be a dark, moody blues inspired song and for the most part succeeds. When the band lets loose they sound fantastic. “More and More” is a predictable rock song that falls flat compared to most of the other performances on the album. The best moments on “Mighty Water” are from the fiddle.

The album is all over the place stylistically. There really is very little of a foundation that the band can build with so many different styles. The good news is when they nail it they really do as they proved in some of their songs. I would like to hear some more focus on a future effort and have them start to build a signature sound from somewhere. In almost all cases this is what ultimately will build a fan base for a band - find your sound.

The group needs some direction but there is a ton of talent here and Uhm has a great voice.  On that note I hope to hear more from them and look forward to their evolution.

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