Out of the remains of the Dirty River Boys, co-founded in 2009 by guitarist Marco Gutierrez, comes the West Texas Exiles. Joining Gutierrez are bassist Eric Harrison, keyboardist Daniel Davis, guitarist Colin Gilmore, and former Dirty River Boys drummer Trinidad Leal. On 8000 Days, the group’s debut album, the country rock sounds of the Flying Burrito Brothers meet the rock anthems of Bruce Springsteen and the bright country pop of the Eagles.
On the title track—which opens the album—softly strummed guitars and whining harmonica capture cinematically the loneliness and desolation of a deserted street in a small town. The sedate setting fades into swirling harmonies, colorful lyrics, and jangly Springsteen-like anthemic rock, capturing the steady descent into kaleidoscopic, drug-fueled visions.
