I’m still riding the high from night one of The Boys From Oklahoma concert, and let me tell you—every band that performed last night delivered. Red Dirt history was made, but during all that, a little band from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, called the Turnpike Troubadours dropped what is now technically their seventh album (if we count Bossier City), titled The Price of Admission produced by Shooter Jennings.
There will be two parts to this review. This first part will be written as I listen, and I’ll give my honest opinion of each song. The second part will be more of a ranking style, and I’ll share my favorite line from each track.
Let’s get this shit started and always remember sometimes songs are meant for you to interpret for yourself so these are just my thoughts.
On The Red River
Written by Evan Felker and Ketch Secor, this song is a little gut-wrenching, in my opinion. It’s another family-type song that tells a story of what I believe is a father and son growing older together
At first, I was thinking of a sibling story because of the verses, but the chorus led me to believe that it’s a story of a father and son. Either way, it’s another family-type song that delivers a punch to the stomach for me, because I’m a sucker for sad songs — and this one makes me think of memories with my dad and my stepdad, who have both influenced my life in so many ways. This is a very poetic song about remembering your father and memories y’all share in my opinion.
Searching For A Light
Written by Felker and the amazing John Fullbright, the second song of the album has a little honky-tonk flair to it at the beginning. I believe this song is kind of like how Flatland Cavalry and Kaitlin Butts’ song “A Life Where We Work Out” is sometimes seen as a love song, but is more of a song about losing someone—or even yourself.
The chorus is why I think this, because of the lines: “Forgive me of my nonsense, I’m still out here chasing shadows and searching for a light I never thought would go away.”
To me, that means whoever’s point of view this song is from, they are chasing and searching for the love they once had for someone, or chasing and searching for a better part of themselves.
I can also see, though, how this could be interpreted as a love song because of the story that’s told throughout. But to me, the way I see it, it’s more of a song of loss and trying to regain what you once had.
Forgiving You
Written by Felker alone this one is kinda hard to pick apart. I listened to it multiple times, trying to get an understanding of what is being talked about. This one’s telling a story — not about love or family, I don’t think. However, it is a good song; it’s just a little hard for me to grasp an understanding of it. It might be a song that means something specific to Felker himself, and that’s all it was ever meant to be. It’s just hard to get a hold on — to understand. I went to look at another review of this song, and they kind of said the same thing. Maybe more will be brought to light for this song in the future.
Be Here
Next up, we have another solo-written Felker song that, to me, has a unique sound compared to other songs the band has released. It has an almost Irish sound to it—think about Seven Nights in Eire by Reckless Kelly (if you don’t know that song, you should listen to it). This is a song I see being big at concerts if they add it to their set list because of the way it’s sung, with a call and response where Felker sings a line, then there’s a group singing back with the words, “Oh Lord, the road I’m on,” along with other parts in the song that have the same thing going on. This is a very catchy song, and I just see this being big at concerts. It’s well written and is a song I see fans loving overall.
Heaven Passing Through
This was the one I was excited for. It got played at night one of The Boys From Oklahoma shows. It’s another solo-written song by Felker, and it’s one of those songs that’s just soft. I don’t want to say simple, but kind of like how Diamonds and Gasoline is—just a softer, easier song. That’s how this one is.
It seems to be a love song, but I’m not sure if it’s a couple love song or a family love song (if that makes sense), because there’s a line in the song about looking at constellations with a three-year-old. Overall, it’s a very good song and will rank high when I go back through to rank the songs on this album.
The Devil Plies His Trade (Sn6 Ep3)
Co-written by Felker and Kyle Nix, this is just your classic Turnpike song you love. It has the same feel as Before The Devil Knows We’re Dead. It’s hard to say much on it — it’s a great song, and it just reminds me of older Turnpike songs. Now what does Season 6 Episode 3 mean? Some say Yellowstone but that doesn’t make sense because there was never a season 6 maybe we will known soon.
A Lie Agreed Upon
Solo-written by Felker, is another classic-sounding Turnpike song. It tells the story of lovers who seem to have a relationship filled with lies, trying to decipher what’s being told as truth and what’s a lie. This one reminds me of Gin, Smoke, Lies. Like I said, it’s another classic-sounding song of theirs that is very well written.
Ruby Ann
This is one I was interested to hear, written by Lance Roark and RC Edwards. This song is a love song that makes you want to dance with a lady at the bar. It’s a song that I see being very big at concerts, getting people two-steppin’ and spinning. The song really just tells a love story about a boy falling in love with a girl and not wanting to lose her. This is one of only two songs Felker didn’t write on this album.
What Was Advertised
Solo-written by Felker, it’s once again another classic-sounding Turnpike song that is familiar to us. Not much of a story here, from what I hear, but hey — sometimes you just need a catchy song in an album, and that’s what this is. I’m not disappointed by it at all.
Leaving Town (Woody Guthrie Festival)
Co-written by Felker and Dave Simonett, this is a song that, to me, talks about being young and wanting to leave your hometown, but growing up to realize how much of your story is rooted in that place. This song speaks to me because what is technically my hometown is a place I hated, and the place I live now is what I consider my hometown. It’s where I graduated from, where I met my girlfriend, and where—before I even lived here—I spent many Thanksgivings and made many memories. It really made me think: when I leave here, how much will I miss it? I think this will be a heavy hitter with fans who have moved from their hometown and miss being there.
Nothing You Can Do
This brings us to the final song on this album, and it’s also the only other song Felker did not have a hand in writing. This one is solo-written by fiddle player Kyle Nix. This is another one of those classic-sounding Turnpike songs that, to me, has a bit of an old-school country sound to it. I think it’s a good song to have at the end of the album — especially for those of us who will listen to it start to finish. It’s just a great song to close out an album, in my opinion
Thank you for reading my review of The Price of Admission the new Turnpike Troubadours album. Go follow on X @_get_western or if you already do thanks for checking me out over here. If you feel like it subscribe for future posts down below.
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