Ramsay Midwood: Shoot Out At The OK Chinese Restaurant

The CD artwork suggests a lightheartedly retro approach, featuring the imprint of an LP on what would be the jacket sleeve and the inclusion of: “electronically altered for stereo” on the front cover. Midwood launches the festivities with a lower register, murmuring type vocal delivery on the catchy (and radio friendly) tune titled “Chicago.” Otherwise, Midwood’s art is founded upon an earthy style of prose, complete with mild distortions to the English language, or perhaps something that might ring like cowboy jargon. He combines downright hilarious lyrics with a downtrodden outlook, amid his charmingly eccentric view of life. Loose comparisons to Woody Guthrie may be in order, while Midwood evokes widespread imagery that also conjures up notions of dingy, roadhouse saloons. Moreover, the ensemble provides sympathetic support via its sprightly melding of country rock and blue grass with melodic themes and straight four beats.

The artist injects some black humor and Americana-like musings into the proceedings with the piece titled “Spinnin’ on this Rock,” featuring lyrics about shooting his friends and losing his job on the dock. Overall, Shoot Out at the Ok Chinese Restaurant is a strangely beautiful event. As Midwood’s bucolic yet altogether ingenious lyricism hits the mark in a rather prolific way.

Vanguard Records

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