Austin band Good Looks‘ second album, Lived Here for A While, takes singer/songwriter Tyler Jordan’s autobiographical, snapshot-style songs, rooted in Americana, and warps them just a little through Jake Ames’ inventive guitar style that owes a lot to early-’80s post-punk. That’s a winning mix that makes the album more unique and rewarding. It’s a terrific record (read our review) and you can listen below.
“Heartland Rock” gets thrown around a lot in press mentions of Good Looks, and Tyler Jordan made us a list of his favorite albums in the genre, though as an intro he offers up some caveats. “Here are my eight favorite heartland rock records. That being said, I’m not totally sure what heartland rock is, and I’m not totally sure we’re a heartland rock band. I will do my best. Spoiler Alert: it’s a lot of Steve Earle.”
Check out Tyler’s list and commentary below.
TYLER JORDAN OF GOOD LOOKS – FAVORITE HEARTLAND ROCK ALBUMS
Steve Earle – Guitar Town (1986)
Of all the Steve Earle records I’m going to mention, this is probably the closest to actual Heartland Rock. Incredible ’80s sparkling production with badass perfect guitar solos. Favorite lyric is on “Someday”: “Now my brother went to college, cuz he played football, but I’m still hanging around cuz I’m a little bit small.” Feeling stuck in your shitty, dying town is the quintessential emotion of Heartland rock. Longing for somewhere with more opportunities and excitement.
Steve Earle – I Feel Alright (1996)
That’s right, I’m skipping Copperhead Road, because I don’t give a fuck about nothing. Steve Earle is back and better than ever on this scorcher of a record. You can’t help but believe him when he says,” Cuz I been to hell and now I’m back again.” So many bangers, and so many songs that just make you feel fucking good. Blast this one driving way too fast down a country road. This is a perfect record y’all.
Steve Earle – El Corazon (1997)
Steve comes back the following year and drops another classic. Bookended by a couple of the finest folk songs you’ve ever heard, one about how bad the prospects were for the left in the 1990s and the other about the passing of his hero Townes. Steve Earle is a real one for talking about Joe Hill and Emma Goldman. Thanks for carrying the torch through the lean years Steve, I love you. Putting the goddamn heart in heartland rock.
Steve Earle – Jerusalem (2002)
Imma skip a couple of really great Steve records to get to Jerusalem, my personal fave of his catalog. Now listen, there are definitely some weird production choices on this one. But one has to give him credit for his willingness to experiment even when it doesn’t always land here. The songs on this one are some of his best ever political songs. Favorite Lyric on “Amerika V. 6.0”: “Yeah, I know that sucks, that your HMO ain’t doin’ what ya thought it would do. Well, everybody’s gotta die sometime, now we can’t save everybody, it’s the best that we can do.”
Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska (1982)
If you’re talking about Heartland Rock, you gotta talk about Bruce. So many classics on this but my 2 faves are the one-two punch of “Highway Patrolman” and “State Trooper.” Only the boss could make you feel something by humanizing a cop. I’m still team ACAB, but damn it if Joe Roberts ain’t a good man. Then I love the juxtaposition of “State Trooper” from the perspective of a guy on the run, begging for the cop not to stop him. Favorite Lyric: “Maybe you got a kid, maybe you got a pretty wife, the only thing that I got, has been bothering me my whole life.”
Iris Dement – Working on a World (2023)
This might not be rock n roll, but it is from the heartland via Iowa City legend Iris Dement. I just saw her tear it down at the Kerrville Folk Festival a few nights ago. If you liked our song “Bummer Year,” you’ve gotta listen to her song “Say A Good Word.” She does everything I was trying to do, but better. Just a great songwriter, at the top of her game, writing protest bangers and making the world a better place in the process. This record will make you wanna be a better human.
Robert Earl Keen – A Bigger Piece Of Sky (1992)
Robert Earl is more of a Texas songwriter than a heartland guy, but a lot of the content is similar. “Corpus Christi Bay” in particular feels like a kindred spirit. I feel like the Gulf Coast petrochemical industry is the continuation and replacement of the manufacturing jobs that disappeared from the Rust Belt. The first verse really gets to the root of that culture:
I worked the rigs from three to midnight
On the Corpus Christi bay
I’d get off and drink ’til daylight
Sleep the morning away
I had a plan to take my wages
Leave the rigs behind for good
But that life, it is contagious
And it gets down in your blood
John Moreland – Visitor (2024)
A modern day heartland rock classic from Tulsa. Favorite lyric: “Some hearts are stone, some hearts are clay, some hearts look better from far away.” From far away, this guy’s big empathetic heart shines through on these songs. This record is an easy listen and the songs are understated. They really sneak up on you, and stay with you long after the record ends. This guy deserves all the good things.
—
Good Looks play a release show in Austin tonight (6/7) and will be on tour starting June 19 in Tulsa and includes a Brooklyn show at Purgatory on August 8. All dates:
Fri. June 7 – Austin, TX @ Waterloo Records (5pm)
Wed. June 19 – Tulsa, OK @ Whittier Bar
Thu. June 20 – St. Louis, MO @ The Sinkhole
Fri. June 21 – Chicago, IL @ Gman Tavern
Sat. June 22 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
Sun. June 23 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Brass Rail
Tue. June 25 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
Wed. June 26 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
Thu. June 27 – Bloomington, IN @ Blockhouse Bar
Sat. June 29 – Jackson, MS @ Duling Hall
Sun. June 30 – New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
Sat. July 6 – Kerrville, TX @ Arcadia Live
Thu. July 25 – Little Rock, AR @ Whitewater Tavern
Sat. July 27 – McAlester, OK @ Dancing Rabbit Music Festival
Mon. July 29 – Pensacola, FL @ The Handlebar
Tue. July 30 – Panama City, FL @ Mosey’s
Wed. July 31 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
Thu. Aug. 1 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
Fri. Aug. 2 – Chattanooga, TN @ Cherry Street Tavern
Sun. Aug. 4 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
Tue. Aug. 6 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House Music Hall
Wed. Aug 7 – Baltimore, MD @ The Crown
Thu. Aug. 8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Purgatory
Wed. Aug. 14 – Portland, ME @ Oxbow Brewing Company