Cordovas Cook Up Country-Tinged Goodness On Melodic ‘The Rose Of Aces’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Photo by Justine Molina @inertiafotos

The newest release from Nashville by way of Baja, California, Americana outfit Cordovas, The Rose of Aces, is a sweet-sounding microdose of country-tinged goodness.  

The group is fronted by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Joe Firstman, who has worked as the bandleader on Last Call With Carson Daly but partners up with guitarist/vocalist Lucca Soria and producer Cory Hanson (Drag City, Wand, Ty Segal) for this strong collection of tunes which have been percolating in Firstman since pre-pandemic days. 

The album starts off on the right foot as “Fallen Angels of Rock ‘n’ Roll” is The Rose of Aces standout single. The track starts with a twangy country rock vibe, singing about all roads from Memphis to Muscle Shoals, before a tone shift via hyperactive guitar work, a kicked-up tempo, and soaring backing vocals in large, arena-ready fashion. While all of the songs here are polished, “Fallen Angels of Rock ‘n’ Roll” stands out as the most ready for prime time. 

After the opener, Cordovas are most at home with their dusty Americana offerings like the country-swaggering “High Roller”, the string-layered weeper “Last to Know”, the vocally gorgeous “Skyline”, and the swaying “Change The Way You Talk” which has hints of Bobby Charles like wordplay and swamp pop. There are many touch points for influences throughout with some working better than others.   

The slicker Fleetwood Mac-sounding “What Is Wrong” doesn’t hit the mark, but the barroom piano and full-on country of “Stone Cold Stoned” channels Grievous Angel era Gram Parson in dynamite fashion. Also of note is when Cordovas try on a bit more of a southern rock vibe in the vein of The Allman Brothers with both the brightly flowing “Deep River” and the swaggering riffage of “Love Is All It Takes”.  

Firstman and company are all locked into the songs, which never run long. The brief tales, like the pirate ship shanty by way of the midwest on “Sky, Land & Sea”, the breezy “Sunshine” and the rich bass/piano accented Mexican influenced closer “Somos Iguales” are all sweet sounding, blowing in and out like a warm summer wind.  Cordovas’ The Rose of Aces delivers twelve solid tunes with tales that resonate while offering down-home inspiration and relaxed vibes. 

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