Named one of Paste Magazine’s top 100 albums of 2024
AVAILABLE ON VINYL, CD & ALL STREAMING SERVICES
LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:
Head West
The Road Led Here
Better Off Apart
We Ran Wild
Boats Slowly Sinking
Texas Just Won’t End
Goodbye Wild Bill
Much More Than This
Anyone But Me
Big City Man
Forty Years Along
“…as its title implies, Head West is obsessed with wanderlust, and it’s that sense of eager abandon that drives these melodies and gives them their vibrant spirit and sheen. After being away too long, it’s good to know Zellar hasn’t lost either his direction or his desire.”
~Lee Zimmerman, American Songwriter Magazine
“Zellar’s new solo album (Head West), his first collection of new songs in 11 years, may well be the best work of his career.”
~Geoffrey Himes, Paste Magazine
“The musical landscape here is as diverse as the American terrain it celebrates. It spans from the pure, unadulterated country tones of “Anyone But Me” to the rock ‘n’ roll twangs of “Goodbye Wild Bill,” harkening back to the 1950s. Meanwhile, the lush and romantic duet “Boats Slowly Sinking” takes you on a different journey, and “Big City Man” unleashes a big city stomp that’ll have you tapping your feet.”
Produced by Martin Zellar
All songs written by Martin Zellar (Wilson Dean Music/BMI)
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Wilson Zellar
Players:
Dominic Ciola: bass
Scott Wenum: drums, percussion, backing vocals
Martin Zellar: vocals, harmonica
Wilson Zellar: guitars
Clementine Zellar-Beaudot: percussion on The Road Led Here
Brian Beken: mandolin & banjo on The Road Led Here
Randy Broughten: pedal steel guitar on Anyone but Me and Boats Slowly Sinking
Ali Gray: backing vocals on We Ran Wild, 40 Years Along & Head West
Presley Haile: vocals on Better off Apart, backing vocals on Boats Slowly Sinking
Geoff Queen: mandolin, pedal steel & lap steel on Goodbye Wild Bill, pedal steel guitar on 40 Years Along, lap steel guitar on Texas Just Won't End
Pat Manske: Percussion on Big City Man
~Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover
Guitars & vocals recorded at Cruz de Piedra Studio, San Miguel de Allende, GTO, MX.
Engineered by Wilson Zellar, assistant engineered by Owen Zellar
Additional recording at Carleton Artists Lofts, St. Paul, MN. Engineered by Wilson Zellar
Additional recording at The Zone Studio, Dripping Springs, TX. Engineered by Pat Manske
Drums recorded at Boom Island Recording, Minneapolis, MN. Engineered by Greg Schutte
Cover Photos: Carolyn Zellar-Beaudot
Artwork by Dan Miggler at Noiseland, Minneapolis, MN
This album is dedicated with much love to my mom & dad.
Creating Head West was a true family affair. Zellar's eldest son Wilson engineered, mixed, and mastered the album in addition to playing all the guitar tracks. His youngest son Owen acted as assistant engineer (and primary engineer on vocal tracks), and his wife Carolyn took all the album art photos. Even his 13-year-old daughter Clementine contributed, adding some percussion.
"Before the quarantine, I wasn't sure I would ever record another album," says Zellar, "but like many other people, the downtime provided a lot of time for my mind to roam. I think these songs reflect equal parts looking back and looking to the future", he says. "I am incredibly proud of this album, and the process of recording it was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life." Zellar stresses that the family approach to recording the album was organic, not affected. "Everyone involved was incredibly qualified. I think that will be apparent when you listen."
"It's been a long time since I've really leaned into promoting and touring behind an album," says Zellar, "but I feel strongly that this album deserves to be heard, and I look forward to doing everything in my power to make sure it does."
Head West, available on CD and vinyl, was recorded primarily at Zellar's Cruz de Piedra studio in Central Mexico, where he lives with his family.