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Recapturing the Romance

History has been cruel to Western swing: the Kingston Trio homogenized it for mass consumption and the Smothers Brothers incorporated it into a novelty act. At best it has been relegated to Western-festival fare, completely obscuring the fact that these songs were once the celebrations and laments of cowboy life.

On their album "By Request," the Pfeiffer Brothers recapture the romance of the American West. With only a guitar, an upright bass and harmony vocals, the brothers furnish these songs with the richness of a full ensemble. The pared down arrangements allow them to shift effortlessly from the galloping rhythm of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" to the lazy melody of "Cool Water." Wiley Jim's earnest delivery of familiar tunes like "Don't Fence Me In" and "Back in the Saddle Again" assure that these classics never sound kitschy.

And lesser known songs like "The Trail Rider's Call" and "That's How the Yodel Was Born" showcase some impressive cowboy yodeling.

Whether they are reinterpreting cowboy classics of the silver screen or introducing original compositions, the Pfeiffer Brothers bring personality and integrity to an important tradition, and help preserve the mystique of the Old West.

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