Track listing: Ten Speed Blues, Backpacking, Lighthearted Happy and High, Where My Treasure Is, Reminisce
It's as if Ranzel X Kendrick doesn't give a damn, but in a really healthy way. From his porch in Costa Rica I'd wager he does actually care that old friends back stateside are dealing with political upheaval, the stock market tanking, and arguing over the egg prices grabbing more headlines than whoever it was who just won March Madness. But at the same time, he's lookin' out over his property enjoying the occasional breeze that brings relief from the rainforest's constant humidity. His newest record Texas Time Warp captures this vibe wholeheartedly.
"Ten Speed Blues" encapsulates Kendrick's current priorities "rolling my wheels right around," the song explains. Just amblin' about town, talkin' to ladies in various states of happiness (or lack thereof). But he's got his bike to get him outta situations and move him on to his next destination. "Backpacking" is absolutely a literal song about the folks hiking around one of the most scenic places on planet. Just a story about what he sees on an average day.
She broke down and began to cry. Seemed as thought she could not understand why. I was so indifferent 'bout the worries of the world, I told her "It helps you live longer, little girl."
So how to you deal with live moving the opposite of lightspeed? You live it "Lighthearted Happy and High," aka track three on this laid back countrified dedication to Ranzel's own homeland of Central Texas. Takin' on life with a lighthearted approach along with a little herbal assistance. Not a bad way to life life, right?
The EP wraps with "Where My Treasure Is" and "Reminisce," both songs the focus on what you think about when the other worries of the world are washed away from your mind. You then have time to reminisce and think on all the important things you've experienced in your life--because you don't have to worry about the hustle and bustle of a calendar-weighted lifestyle.
Musically, Ranzel X Kendrick takes things on similarly to his day-to-day: relaxed but not without focus. The musicianship is solid, the genre somewhere between Texas Country and Parrothead Folk. "Reminisce" even brings in some gorgeous harmony vocals--I wrote about those in my review of the single back in December. Vocally he's no Chris Stapleton or Chris Robinson--and this is where Ranzel just don't care. He sings honestly from his heart. What does come through is that he means every word he sings. He writes, records and performs out of love for making music. What a nice reason to make an album, dontcha think?