Whiskey to Wine

With a odd name and some unique music, The Federal Hillbillies have put out their first EP “Whiskey To Wine”. Their style might not be a new way of playing Americana music but it is their take on what this music should sound like. For their first debut EP, The Federal Hillbillies have proved that they can play some good Americana music. The band might be from Baltimore, MD, a city not really known for having a large country/folk music following but it would never be guessed from listening to this debut EP.

Typically, I don't go for country music and even though I am from West Virginia and I am a hillbilly, I only like folk music in small doses. That's why when I first listened to this EP I just wasn't liking it that much. What I first noticed was the vocals of Justin Ahmanson as he sings these slower paced songs. Upon the first time hearing his voice I wasn't impressed with him at all. There are moments that his voice sounds like someone making fun of country music. At times the vocals of Justin Ahmanson are a little rough and it sounds like he is struggling to get that right country/folk sound in his voice, but he does have talent. When listening to this EP for the first time it was then that I heard the flaws that are in his voice but when I had listened to the EP more, what I heard was emotions that where fitting with the lyrics.

Is Whiskey To Wine a great EP? No, not great, but it is good and it does have it's high points. Such as how well the songs are written where they have a lot of emotion and at times a little depressing. While the songs might be emotional they still have some fun in the way the instruments are played. For me it was the harmonica that I liked the most on the songs, but the slide guitar is what gives the songs their country/folk sound. These songs have a good amount of emotion in them and with the vocals of Justin Ahmanson being a little rough, it works for the songs by giving them a more emotional edge. You can hear the pain and misery being put into the songs and into the vocals by Justin Ahmanson. And even though this is a country/folk EP I found myself liking the songs on it.