Song Review – Cody Jinks – “Fast Lane”
As venues remain closed and tours cancelled due to the Coronavirus, many artists and bands are cutting loose of some of their deeper unreleased catalog cuts to help keep revenue coming in and their name out in the public. What you can expect from most of this material is the odds and sods that were left on the cutting house floor, similar to a Record Store Day release, maybe relevant to those hardcore fans who want to get their fingers on everything their favorite artists release, but overall these songs are often indicative of why they didn’t make the final cut in the first place.
But when it comes to an artist like Cody Jinks, and especially his landmark album Adobe Sessions from 2015 that was so damn good it came in at #5 on Saving Country Music’s Greatest Albums of the Last Decade, even the leftovers can be better than many typical artist’s main course Greatest Hits.
Along with an acoustic demo version of the song “Never Alone, Always Lonely” from his latest album The Wanting, Cody Jinks has just released a song called “Fast Lane” from the 2015 Adobe Sessions. You could call it typical Cody Jinks in how it plods along in half time, with the bass rattling your rib cage and the steel guitar high in the mix. But typical Cody Jinks also means you get a killer country song with writing that sounds like something composed specifically for you.
“Fast Lane” is sort of a cautionary tale about how the curiosity of adolescence leads to the dependency of adulthood, and how this can go on to wreck your life if you let it. You can tell Jinks is singing from experience—his own, and those of the people around him, including some that melt away as their demons overtake them. Like everything that Jinks writes or releases, it’s hard to not hear the passion he puts behind every song. The track is rendered even better by the guitar outtro that really understands to mood and message Cody Jinks is attempting to convey.
“Fast Lane” has been kicking around for a while if you knew where to look. Another studio version, less refined and with a fiddle intro from the currently-unpublished Cast No Stones album has been on YouTube for a while, and Jinks has played this song a few times live. But “Fast Lane” still feels fresh to your ears, and this version is definitely the definitive one.
This song is so good, it seems strange why Jinks wouldn’t have kept it on Adobe Sessions, or released it on a later record. But with Adobe Sessions coming in at 12 songs already, and the way the production is somewhat similar to other tracks on the album, maybe it would have been lost in the shuffle, and felt like a little too much. Meanwhile receiving an unexpected Cody Jinks song in the middle of COVID-19 lockdown is incredibly welcome, and reminds you why Cody Jinks is so revered in your little music realm.
When your “not good enough” material is still “better than most,” that’s when you know you’re one hell of an artist. That’s Cody Jinks.
Throwback Country
March 27, 2020 @ 9:57 am
I’ll give you two more “unreleased” tracks that are absolute gems from Jinks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twJmlldh5os
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTZiCVSTHg8
Hard to believe these songs didn’t make an album at some point.
Throwback Country
March 27, 2020 @ 10:04 am
Here is the set list for the 2008 “Cast No Stones” album. Almost all of the songs are available on YouTube, but not for purchase that I know of. It’s a classic record. https://www.discogs.com/Cody-Jinks-Cast-No-Stones/release/13385575
tucker33585
March 28, 2020 @ 6:02 am
You can download the album in archive.org
sbach66
March 29, 2020 @ 8:48 am
I found that one and ‘Collectors Item’ there after a couple of minutes of web searching. Thought about posting the link, but unsure about putting this site in an uncomfortable position as I know DL’ing music is a touchy subject.
They’re out there, easy to find.
tucker33585
March 29, 2020 @ 1:20 pm
It’s an out of print album, and Cody said a few times he doesn’t care about distribution. I’ve uploaded the links a few times in different places
Patrick
March 27, 2020 @ 10:24 am
Great song! I have a copy on the Adobe vinyl, but I’m happy that it’s streaming now. Jon Wallace is such a fantastic guitar player too. Chris Claridy is a good player, but i do miss Wallace’s playing.
Mat
March 27, 2020 @ 10:41 am
Serious question: now that things are online / streaming and no longer constrained by physical media, I wonder how do artists really think about what makes an “album” (the term itself comes from the “album” of short play records from before LPs). The same point goes for the 3 minute single now that radio play (not to mention 45s) are not a real constraint anymore. I wonder how this will change things in the future.
Trigger
March 27, 2020 @ 11:09 am
The album concept is still very much alive, especially in the hearts of most artists who prefer the idea of presenting their songs in a cohesive concept. I don’t expect this to ever change, though the media has been proclaiming the death of the album concept for a dozen years, ever since the advent of iTunes. In fact as we move more towards slow music and people continue to discover corporate radio and playlists are under serving them, I expect the album concept to only strengthen, and we’ve seen this in the increasing sales of vinyl records.
Jake Cutter
March 27, 2020 @ 12:00 pm
Artists are still putting them out, but it’s the listening habits that have drastically changed. I’m guilty of skipping around too much when listening to digital, and always realize the calming effect of physically “putting on an album.” Honestly, I’m glad to have both. Streaming for discovery and convenience, and my favorite albums on vinyl for the “slow” experience.
I wish I shared your optimism about the trend towards slow music. In perspective, it still seems like a niche movement.
Marla
March 27, 2020 @ 7:01 pm
Yes, I loved Jon Wallace! ✌🏻💜🎶
North Woods Country
March 27, 2020 @ 11:37 am
Cody needs to get the writing team from Adobe and Devil back together in the future. That team wrote songs that naturally fit. Certain songs on these past 3 albums sound so out of place, even if they are good.
T
March 28, 2020 @ 6:34 am
I think he wrote the majority of Adobe and Devil himself, and the majority of Lifers, After the Fire and the Wanting were co-writes
Benny Lee
March 27, 2020 @ 12:05 pm
That’s a good song, and the performance is fantastic.
Scott S.
March 27, 2020 @ 12:20 pm
Good song. Still think Adobe was his best album.
DJ
March 27, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
My oldest son sent me a Cody Jinks face book link- he said he’s trying to get together a streaming concert- I’d pay for it in a heart beat. On the face book link he sang Killin Time and said he hasn’t played it in a long time. In a long time. Can you imagine these guys full repertoire – imagine how many songs are in Willies head- man.
He and Jamey Johnson have the most authentic voices in country music today-
Jimmy
March 27, 2020 @ 5:06 pm
My brother was friends with Billy Cowsill, of The Cowsills fame, and he said Billy told him he knew 1000 songs he could play off the top of his head. They would jam, and Billy knew everything! Which is amazing to me. But then Billy had played and toured for decades. That’s a human jukebox, right there. Sadly, Billy is gone, but his music lives on.
DJ
March 28, 2020 @ 5:04 am
Human juke box- LOL Love it! Is there a “Wurlitzer Prize” in there somewhere?
618creekrat
March 27, 2020 @ 1:28 pm
Hmm. Great cut. Maybe we’re lucky and this is a sign that the Cast No Stones album will get broke out of jail.
Corncaster
March 27, 2020 @ 1:43 pm
Really good voice on this guy.
Jimmy
March 27, 2020 @ 5:10 pm
Last time I was in Nashville, I was at 3rd And Lindsely to catch the Time Jumpers (always a required show when in guitar town), and Cody jumped up on stage and sang with the band. I was blown away by his voice. Haven’t really been blown away by too much of his music, but I’m still discovering it. I like this track, though.
Rory Coats
March 28, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
I really like Cody & everyone should experience him but if you want to hear the Best voice in the business then listen to some Randy Houser especially him & Jamey Johnson live at Farm Aid 2019 doing “LEAD ME HOME” but Houser will knock your socks of on any song.
Jimmy
March 28, 2020 @ 3:03 pm
Houser is a beast! His song “Anything Goes” just kills me. That vocal performance is one of the best I’ve ever heard. Jamey Johnson is amazing, as well. Good choices, Rory!
Di Harris
March 27, 2020 @ 5:17 pm
https://www.wsmv.com/news/a-group-of-nashville-studio-singers-perform-an-epic-cell/article_2245fbf8-6eb2-11ea-9be3-db6cec04c8f3.html
DJ
March 28, 2020 @ 5:12 am
I’m not religious but that is awesome! If you don’t feel that check into a hospital – your vital signs might be missing.
Koozie
March 27, 2020 @ 7:13 pm
Brent Cobb released a new one yesterday, and I can’t stop listening. He’s one of the true naturals in the business right now – his delivery is so true to himself, it’s like slipping on your most comfortable pair of shoes.
This Jinks song is a good’un, too.
Bill from Wisconsin
March 28, 2020 @ 10:06 am
Koozie I got the new Brent Cobb song (The World is Ending) in my mailbox this week. He is one of my favorites too, and it’s an excellent song with a bit of a spooky but beautiful vibe.
albert
March 28, 2020 @ 12:30 am
I really love the production and the performances on this track .
Song not so much .What I’d REALLY be interested in would be CJ singing and recording stuff by some of the great writers .
But its country ….no question there. And again …loving the production .
OlaR
March 28, 2020 @ 7:55 am
Now i know what is wrong with the track…it’s not the production or the performance/voice…it’s the song itself. “Fast Lane” can’t grab me.
albert
March 28, 2020 @ 9:30 am
I think ( unpopular opinion coming but no surprise if you read albert regularly ) that’s not what’s wrong with JUST THIS track . It has been relatively easy and relatively inexpensive to record and expose music in recent years but here’s the thing . ANYBODY AND THEIR DOG can write a song …ANYBODY . But GOOD ,much less GREAT , songs are as hard to come by as ever …maybe more-so because fewer REAL writers are still in the game and they aren’t appreciated as such any more . that is …the great stuff doesn’t seem to get recorded . trend does .
producing a great-SOUNDING record is easier than its ever been because of technology . better, more affordable ( and even free ) gear , preset programs ( auto tune , mastering etc.. ) . thing is …..a producer used to help an artist realize/create their vision based on the producer’s ‘education’ musically and who the artist wanted to be . that education used to be far more diverse and far more influenced by far better singers, writers and players .now a producer just listens to another producer’s stuff and tries his best to emulate it for commercial ends …or just NOT produce ( Dave Cobb ) …..its not so much about realizing a vision as it may have been for pop acts like the beatles ( sgt peppers w/george martin) or brian wilson’s ‘pet sounds’ or kacey musgraves’ GOLDEN HOUR . it’s more generic on all fronts than ever BECAUSE of the way inferior mainstream /popular music discourages individuality and exploration and rewards homogenization .
some of the most vacuous stuff around is by bieber and taylor swift ….THAT”S the pop standard now . short shelf life , little to no soul and emulated over and over …and vice versa . those two acts steal from many others cuz its ‘safe’ as consumer goods .
k-….enough rambling from albert ……I’m probably preaching to the choir here anyway .
BE SAFE everyone …..
Bill from Wisconsin
March 28, 2020 @ 9:51 am
I like several of these comments.
Rory Coats
March 28, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
Everyone should listen to George Shingleton ” DAMN GOOD WOMAN” ALL ARE GOOD, ALSO THERE’S THIS 16 YR. OLD NAME LANDON WALL ” SOMBODY’S OUT THERE LISTENING” HE wrote this & others
RGW
March 29, 2020 @ 6:10 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jxp37efnr8
One of my favorites from Cody is an old release..I Walk Alone. Check out the picture on this album cover!
Atomic Zombie Redneck
March 29, 2020 @ 6:57 pm
I love it.