Brianna and I are both huge fans of Turnpike, and between the two of us, we’ve managed to cover, either via a review or a reflection, each of their other three albums still in print. I’ve also covered their live shows. It seemed fitting to explore this album and complete the picture, especially since they’ve been so important to both of us.

Release Date: 2012

Style: Red Dirt

People Who Might Like This album: Red Dirt fans, those who love strong songwriting mixed with lively, upbeat instrumentation

Standout Tracks: “Gin, Smoke, Lies,” “Before the devil Knows We’re Dead,” “Good Lord Lorrie,” “Call a Spade a Spade,” “empty as a drum,” “Quit While I’m Ahead”

Reflections: It says so much about this band that we would want to feature all their albums here, for this is such a broad category that we only feature stuff we consider to be really great in our reflections. It’s meant to be more of a personal thing for each of us rather than an exploration of “classic” albums. Turnpike’s self-titled record from 2015 is my favorite and won our album of the Year, while Brianna prefers Diamonds & Gasoline and their latest, A Long Way From Your Heart. But unlike other artists where you search through a few good albums to pick one for a reflection and automatically throw out the rest, all of Turnpike’s material is good enough to be featured. And Goodbye Normal Street has its own special things that connect me with it.

“Gin, Smoke, Lies” is the first Turnpike song I ever heard, the one that immediately made me a fan. It shows off the strength of Turnpike, their ability to craft really genius lyrics while also making catchy songs. Their instrumentation, especially their propensity for fiddle, is one of my favorite things. “Before The devil Knows We’re dead” is a song about dying doing the things you love, and it’s somehow made happy because of the way they perform it, with fiddle and electric guitar running free. To all of you out there, take serious note: this is the song I want played at my funeral, not some hymn or tear-jerker; this is a celebration of life, and what a way to go, as Evan Felker sings: “Let’s leave the world laughin’ when our eulogies are read.”

When I was listening to this for this piece, I was stunned by the beauty in “Quit While I’m ahead,” a song I’ve played countless times before but have never completely noticed. It speaks again to the fact that people can listen to this band just for the music and the melodies and all that fiddle and never even pay attention to the songwriting genius. It’s the depth of writing of someone like Jason Isbell, but given to us in a way that’s more accessible and fun. And not to mention more country; they do blend country with rock as is common to Red Dirt, but a song like the duet with Jamie Lin Wilson, “Call a Spade a spade,” can’t be mistaken for anything other than three chords and the truth.

And for all you Turnpike enthusiasts and Lorrie apologists, looking to connect that Browning shotgun and those logging roads and piece together the story of this unforgettable character, she makes her first appearance here in “Good Lord Lorrie.” It’s a great song on its own, but now, in light of their more recent songs with references to her, it becomes even more intriguing, and essential listening for those trying to solve the mystery.

It’s so great to say that we’ve written about all the Turnpike albums still in wide circulation. It’s wonderful that their output has been so strong, not to mention significant to both Brianna and myself. Goodbye Normal Street completes the puzzle, at least until they grace us with a new record. That day cannot come soon enough.

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