My first copy story ever made was a review of Jesse Welles’ album Hells Welles. Now, the end of the year is upon us, and coincidentally, Welles has released his new album Middle. Nothing more fitting for my very last story for the website this year to end just the same as I started it, a Jesse Welles album review. 

  Welles’ music has evolved a lot over the years. He started with pure old-school acoustic folk, but now he’s transitioned to making country rock records that are as good, if not better, than his early works. Welles’ latest album oozes with the old school country-rock essence that artists like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, or John Anderson have released in their heyday. The musicianship on this album is simply amazing. Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, nearly every instrument that could be on a country album is here, and every one plays amazingly. 

  While the musicianship has changed, the messages haven’t. Welles’ music still projects his views on the world, his mental state, and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Jesse Welles album without some political commentary. 

  My favorite track on this album is his song War is a God.

  War is a god and is one of, if not my favorite, pieces of political speech from Welles. For me, it is on par with War isn’t murder from his first album, Hell’s Welles. This song, at first glance, seems like it’s just talking about how, in some ways, people will follow or start a war like it’s a religion, saying that “maybe war is a god” and that it is out of our control. I for sure thought that was its meaning at first. However, when you look a little deeper, it points out exactly the opposite: this song is a sarcastic commentary on how man makes war. That “war is over if you want it, if you don’t, then that’s alright”. It directly says that we can end war, but we don’t, but that’s ok. The sarcasm in this song is to die for because its message on the surface is great, but when you peel the mask off, it only gets even better. 

  While this is my favorite track on this album, every single song is 100% worth listening to, and I encourage you to listen to this album even if country/folk isn’t your favorite genre of music.