There must be something in the water in Nebraska that it keeps producing powerful folk singers. At this point, I think it’s safe to say almost any indie music lover hears Nebraska and thinks of Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, but I think it is time that a new artist’s name becomes synonymous with the state. Orion Walsh grew up in Lincoln, Neb. Although he shares some traits in common with fellow Nebraskan singer Oberst, Walsh really comes into his own style on his debut album Tornado Lullabies. 
Tornado Lullabies at first glance may seem like a relatively straightforward disc. You have a guy with an acoustic guitar who occasionally throws in harmonica and piano for good measure. But when you take a closer look, you see that the album is a whirlwind of emotions and musings as Walsh sings about everything from homelessness to war to illness and death.
The album starts with the country rock song “Legend of Young Billy” that reminds me of Murder by Death sans cello. From here, Walsh goes into a song about knowing when to say when and then a tragic war tune called “The Last American Boy”. It’s patriotic, but has a bite with lyrics like, “Johnny was the last American boy, forced on the streets after Uncle Sam sold the farm.” The war songs continue with “When Will They Come for Us” and “The War He Couldn’t Win”, the latter a colorful number that best showcases Walsh’s Midwest roots.
Walsh expands his instrumentation on the somber “Melt with the Snow”, which adds strings and also on the title track “Tornado Lullabies” which is less country than the other songs with the addition of organ and xylophone. Despite this expansion, Walsh chooses to close the album with the upbeat “Look Around” that primarily relies on the harmonica.
Tornado Lullabies is available now.
Tracklisting:
01. Legend of Young Billy
02. Throwing in the Towel
03. The Last American Boy
04. Starting Over on a Western Shore
05. Melt with the Snow Keys
06. Transient Blues
07. Tornado Lullabies
08. When Will They Come For Us
09. The Ware He Couldn’t Win
10. Look Around
Orion Walsh: website | myspace
Written by: Bethany
