Cory Hanson – Western Cum Review

Released on June 23rd, 2023 Cory Hanson’s Western Cum is an impenetrable piece of charismatic guitar-laden psychedelic soundscapes. Wings opens the album as a punchy yet delightful upswing inviting us along for the ride. The track pulls the listener in immediately with undulating harmonies soaked in impressive instrumentation. Housefly leaves us yearning for more with an infectious opening before lightening the load with Hanson’s signature vocals- rinse and repeat in the best possible way. 

Persuasion Architecture picks up the pace immediately, throwing the listener into a ferocious high tempo tease before relaxing into a balmy and laid back interlude, cutting back and forth between the two in a pleasantly surprising manner. Horsebait Sabotage offers itself up as evidence that Hanson isn’t afraid to experiment on the fingerboard nor slack on the writing. 

Hanson really shines on Ghost Ship, the track may be the strongest on the album in terms of popularity, but it is a microcosm of what makes this psychedelic folk-charged masterpiece work as a whole. The track is immersed in a kind of steady sentimentality that permeates the ear and mind. We’re left with what feels like a real love letter to classic rock and roll from beginning to end.

Twins embraces the folky and subsequently the americana side of the album, driven through Hanson’s playful work on the guitar. The song itself feels like a nice break from the mind-bending experimentation by squarely grounding itself and the listener alike. That interlude doesn’t last long before Driving Through Heaven greets us as a ten plus minute anthem that continues to carry the previous themes of the album to fruition. 

For our closure Hanson delivers an impressive dozy melody on Motion Sickness. The thing I’ve noticed most about Western Cum is that Hanson has let the instrumental portions of songs do the talking. The vocals are a delight but they don’t get in the way of letting the rest of the tracks shine.  Overall the piece is a striking americana inspired psychedelic rock artwork, a testament to the talent and craftsmanship of Cory Hanson. Western Cum is certainly the type of release that satiates but doesn’t stop us from wondering what’s next.

Check out Cory Hanson’s Western Cum below via Spotify.