Long Violent History Explained

Long Violent History
Type:studio
Artist:Tyler Childers
Cover:Long violent history.jpg
Genre:Country, bluegrass Old Time
Label:Hickman Holler
Producer:Tyler Childers
Prev Title:Country Squire
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?
Next Year:2022

Long Violent History is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Tyler Childers. It is an album centralized on the title track, a protest song against racism. Childers released the album in 2020 with no publicity other than a six-minute video.

Content

In September 2020, Childers announced the album's release via a video message posted on YouTube.[1] In the six-minute video, Childers addresses the album's central themes in opposition of racism, especially when viewed from the perspective of "rural white" listeners. The album is mostly composed of traditional fiddle tunes, but ends on the title track, a protest song.[2] According to NPR, Childers cited the Black Lives Matter movement, along with the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921, as the two main influences of the album's themes.[3]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that it was "the rare protest album that doesn't need words to shout, and it's all the more powerful because of it."[4]

Track listing

All tracks public domain except "Long Violent History", written by Tyler Childers.

  1. "Send In the Clowns" - 4:08
  2. "Zollie's Retreat" - 2:25
  3. "Squirrel Hunter" - 3:59
  4. "Sludge River Stomp" - 4:38
  5. "Midnight on the Water" - 4:08
  6. "Camp Chase" - 3:54
  7. "Jenny Lynn" - 3:10
  8. "Bonaparte's Retreat" - 2:46
  9. "Long Violent History" - 3:10

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Folk Album Review: Tyler Childers's "Long Violent History" – An Appalachian Murder Ballad for Breonna Taylor . Arts Fuse . September 26, 2020 . January 18, 2022.
  2. Web site: Tyler Childers Hopes 'Long Violent History' Makes Listeners Think, Then Act . The Boot . September 18, 2020 . January 18, 2022 . Angela Stefano.
  3. Web site: Tyler Childers Pushes Back On Southern Values And Our 'Long, Violent History' . NPR . September 18, 2020 . January 18, 2022.
  4. Web site: Long Violent History . AllMusic . January 18, 2021.