Doc Fell & Co. - Heaven, Hell Or Oklahoma
Straight out of Tahlequah, Oklahoma come Americana band Doc Fell & Co., fronted by a real medical doctor, who also just happens to sing and write music.
Doc Fell & Co.
Their recently released third album, called Heaven, Hell or Oklahoma is, according to Doc Fell, “a journey down a dead end street. The concept behind the album became songs inspired by the afterlife. I had written two of the album’s tracks during funerals. Going through my catalog, I found other songs that had similar themes. The title evolved from embracing this idea but also left open the ability to slide in our track “A Different Drum” which is more about our home state.”
Doc Fell & Co.’s music, influenced by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Woody Guthrie, blends equal parts of good old boy country, red dirt, folk, gospel funk, bluegrass, and Americana into a sound somewhere between outlaw country and neocountry, with whiffs of the Bakersfield Sound.
Around since 2011, Doc Fell & Co. comprises John Fell (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Kyle Brown (lead guitar), Joe Sloan (drums, percussion), Adam Miller (cello, harmonica), Eddie Dickerson (fiddle, cello, mandolin) and Geoff Queen (pedal steel guitar). Special guests include J. Meridian (backing vocals), as well as David Percefull (bass, electric sitar, keyboards).
“Mean Marie” rides a rollicking rock-a-billy melody, as Fell narrates the tale of a woman “even the devil knows to leave her be.” Thick, fuzzy harmonics give the tune a tight frisson, declarative as all get-out.
Encompassing 11-tracks, the album opens with “Peace Maker,” a song about Wyatt Earp. Riding a measured buff rhythm, the tune travels on dark guitars. Fell’s voice, a deep tenor, infuses the lyrics with elegiac tones. Other tracks worth immediate attention include “End of the Line,” a country-flavored tune reminiscent of Leon Russell in full-on cowboy mode. A crying steel guitar is the highlight of the track, infusing it with a delicious whining twang.
A personal favorite is “Slim Says,” a hard-driving alt-country tune with filaments of country-pop-lite running through it. Shimmering guitars, Fell’s energetic voice, and a rolling, propelling rhythm make this song a winner.
“Mean Marie” rides a rollicking rock-a-billy melody, as Fell narrates the tale of a woman “even the devil knows to leave her be.” Thick, fuzzy harmonics give the tune a tight frisson, declarative as all get-out. “Three Chords” exudes touches of outlaw country flavors, along with Fell’s down-home inflection, infusing the tune with creamy energy. Great lyrics bring up Willie Nelson’s music.
The last track on the album, “Home On The Hill,” features a velvety, country-folk melody, along with the scrumptious vocal harmonies of J. Meridian, whose gorgeous tones imbue the tune with warm hues.
Heaven, Hell or Oklahoma delivers infectious rhythms, smooth country textures, and the gleaming surface of the yummy voice of Doc Fell.
