By Brian Rock
Fort Worth folksters, Left Arm Tan reunite for their seventh album, When Tigers Smoked. The title references a Korean saying that means “a long time ago.” The phrase was inspired by recent events in guitarist and songwriter, Daniel Hines’ personal life. Undergoing three separate surgeries in early 2025 for his hand, shoulder and heart; Hines was forced to take several months off to recuperate. During that period, He wrote songs that reflected on life, mortality, and meaning. Producer Salim Nourallah (Old 97’s) gives the album the polished folk-rock ambience of The Jayhawks and The Lumineers.
“What’s Left of Me,” finds Hines and the band assessing the damage of the last year and the accumulated damage of a band’s life on the road. Whistles and hand claps, augmented by bass and drums, give the song a deceptively cheerful introduction. Lead singer, Brian Lee dampens the mood singing, “There’s cracks in the road, and it’s part of the plan.” He hints that we don’t plan the setbacks we face, so who does? Continuing, he sings, “I’m not a proud man, I try to understand.” Despite their unpleasantness, life’s cracks have succeeded in granting a little humility and perspective. Waxing philosophical, Lee sings, “When the world takes a bite, spits me out finally sets me free, you can have what’s left of me.” Yes, life will leave scars, but for those who can adapt, it will also impart wisdom. Whether we have more scars or more wisdom may depend on how we handle our adversities when they come.
“Amsterdam,” is a fiddle laced plea to be taken away from current circumstances. “Heart Break,” is a lament for a “future that’s gone and won’t come back.” “Ride’n High,” and “Roll’n Under The Stars,” address trying to hide from your sorrows by running from them. “Wasted Rain,” mourns the unsuccessful harvest of all the dreams we’ve planted. “Drunk, High & Empty Inside,” notes the ironic futility of crying over your life’s futility. “Die Young,” is a surrender to life’s burdens and a cry for help. In the midst of this despair, a positive memory sneaks through the darkness in, “Mexico Again.” Remembering “ocean views and tonics and gin,” Lee and the band manage to remember better days long ago. Reassessing their circumstances, the band comes to a measure of self-acceptance on the gentle jangle pop of, “Almost Beautiful Sinner.” Despite the, “half-healed scar in the mirror,” Lee and company can finally make peace with the past and face the present. The band puts things in perspective on, “Ordinary Guys.” Standing at a supermarket checkout line between the tabloids and the gum; Lee notices the shoppers around him and realizes, “We’ve traded what we wanted for what we’ve become.” At first it sounds like resignation, but there is an awareness in the observation. Our common struggles are part of our humanity. The check out lady who dreamed of being a novelist, the shelf stocker who could’ve been an athlete if he didn’t blow out his knee, the store manager whose inventions never caught on: All of us are dealing with invisible scars. But there is courage and community in carrying on and caring for each other. Left Arm Tan captures the pathos of life’s struggles with insightful lyrics and reassuring Laurel Canyon melodies.
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Brian Rock
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