Joel Timmons takes listeners on a genre-blurring ride with Psychedelic Surf Country, a debut solo album that lives up to its name. Best known for his work with Sol Driven Train, Timmons steps into the spotlight with a collection of songs that weave together cosmic country, vintage rock, and sun-drenched surf influences. With Maya de Vitry at the helm as producer and a cast of skilled musicians, the album delivers both raucous energy and introspective moments, all wrapped in Timmons’ signature laid-back charm.
The album kicks off with “Just a Man,” a heartfelt tribute to his father that layers warm synths over a galloping rhythm, nodding to Southern rock greats like The Marshall Tucker Band. “Turbo” shifts gears entirely, channeling Chuck Berry’s swagger into a high-speed highway tale of a police dog and a fateful encounter with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Meanwhile, “Cottage by the Sea” slows things down with a nostalgic, pedal steel-laced waltz, capturing the longing for simpler coastal living.
Timmons doesn’t shy away from humor and sharp social observations, as heard in “East Nashville Cowboy,” a playful jab at the city’s hipster country scene, complete with yodeling and a wink to old-school western crooners. “Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks,” co-written with his wife Shelby Means, walks a fine line between satire and sincerity, painting a vivid picture of traditional masculinity through the lens of bluegrass and rockabilly. And then there’s “End of the Empire,” an anthemic slow-burner that crescendos into a swirling mix of voices and guitar wails, evoking a world on the edge of collapse.
Throughout Psychedelic Surf Country, Timmons proves himself a versatile storyteller, effortlessly shifting between rollicking road songs, heartfelt ballads, and tongue-in-cheek anthems. Whether or not it fully earns its “psychedelic” label is up for debate, but there’s no denying the album’s sun-soaked, surf-streaked soul. It’s an adventurous debut that feels both deeply personal and irresistibly fun—one that invites listeners to roll the windows down and take the ride. – Jason Felton