The Cowboy Junkies have been recording albums for 20 years. Their style of music falls somewhere between country, blues and alternative rock. The band was formed in Toronto, Canada back in the mid 1980’s. Although never a mainstream act, the Cowboy Junkies have remained on the fringes of Canada’s pop music culture. Over the years, they have captured a dedicated following in the United States as well.
Three of the bands members are family. Margo, Michael, and Peter Timmins are joined by Alan Anton. Margo does all the vocals and takes a back seat to few female singers around today. The Cowboy Junkies have rather quietly succeeded where so many bands have failed. They have remained true to their roots and never compromised their “sound” just for the sake of pleasing the mainstream.
Among the Cowboy Junkie’s best known albums are The Trinity Sessions and Miles From Our Home. The latter being the closest that the group has come to entering the pop music genre. Listening to the Cowboy Junkies you get tear-laden blues and some upbeat country-rock. Not to mention the occasional stunning rendition of songs recorded originally by others. But most of the Cowboy Junkies’ material is all their own featuring the seductive low-tempered vocals of Margo Timmins. Over the last two decades, this critically acclaimed group has managed to create a style of music that penetrates to the bone.
Rock And Bird
The Cowboy Junkies have an affinity for writing songs about birds. This song is from the 1990 album, The CautionHorses. It learns toward sounding like country with a mild easy-rock flare. One of the many numbers by this group that never get old.
My Wild Child
This song is rock oriented. It features a great guitar that highlights the solid vocals of Margo. An example of this group’s ability to instantly change moods and still remain true to there music. From the 2004 release, One Soul Now.
Southern Rain
From the 1992 album, Black Eyed Man, this song might be defined as rural country. This entire album almost awakens the band from it low-keyed rapture. However, the prevalent quietude strongly remains as the Cowboy Junkies explore beyond their slower Southern blues and country guitar picking pace.
Good Friday
Once a rock station favorite, this 1998 tune was one of many from the album, Miles From Our Home, that almost broke the Cowboy Junkies into the mainstream. Stylish and popsy, it still reflects the more somber mood often displayed in every album.
Sweet Jane
Perhaps the best known of all Cowboy Junkie songs. This was a remake of the original tune done by The Velvet Underground in 1969. It certainly made its way to many pop stations around the country in 1988. Although they didn’t have many charting singles, this was the highest of a handful.
Anniversary Song
Another attempt to break through the sweet sadness exhibited in many earlier songs. Rather upbeat and raunchy, this tunes flows with energy rarely found in previous recordings. From the 1993 album, Pale Sun, Crescent Moon, this vibrant outcast tries to inject atmospheric melody to an otherwise listless affair.
Angel Mine
This song is country-rock all the way. But not the tear-jerking type of song one might expect. It is featured on one of the better albums by this group, Lay It Down. Again, the Cowboy Junkies were on the verge of pushing fully into the country-rock-pop scene. Thankfully, they maintained their more primal moods and kept the effervesce toned down a notch.
Misguided Angel
Laid back and passionately soulful. Margo does a splendid job singing the vocals. The darker flavor of this tune more resembles the misty and moody traditions of this band. Like so many songs originated by this group, it stands in a class of its own. Mournful and sullen, but faintly airy and light; all in typical Cowboy Junkie style.
Miles From Our Home
If there was ever a song to propel this group into the top 40 chart madness, this was it. Highly vibrant and forceful, it moved the group away from its melancholy filled mystique. Still, it was pure “Junkie” and rooted with implicit undertones of longing and desire.
Somewhere Out There
Haunting and stimulating. This song expounds harmonious depth and wistful yearnings. It doesn’t seem to fit into any limiting genre. So much of this band’s music crosses into a variety of sentiments. And that is what creates such a unique sound that never blends into the mainstream for very long.
The Cowboy Junkies have gained legendary acclaim. This despite the fact they are so uncommon. Grounded by the intimate and sometimes far away vocals of Margo, the band continues to pleasure the most discerning listener. They are so unlike many of the flash-the-pan musical acts that invade the music scene today. Their style is undaunted and never imitated. The Cowboy Junkies are always a refreshing escape from the hum-drum excuse that makes up much of today’s lifeless music.
