| CD REVIEW (Also posted at www.701.com) |
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| To say that this CD is country or folk is not actually a falsehood in either case, as they both originate from rural environments. At one time restricted to barns, campfires, kitchens or even a daring coffeehouse, it�s not unusual any more to walk into a downtown nightclub and witness a �hoedown�, in all its myriad cultural variations; hence, the catch-all phrase, �acoustic/traditional/roots�. The general idea is to express enjoyment of life. For the most part, this CD is a barrel of fun. There is enough diversity in the tempos and rhythms from one song to the next to appeal to both a French-Canadian and Celtic heritage, with a little bit of Western swing and blues. I didn�t care for the yodeling by Jody Benjamin on Ledbelly�s �Out on the Western Plains�, but she also contributes on conventional vocals, Cajun triangle (ti-fer) and guitar, notably on the Cajun-ized Jones/Price composition, �You Done Me Wrong�. Jody is one-half of Ball & Chain, with Michael Ball, who is also featured here on �Redemption Ground�. It was nice to see more than just a token song sung in French, and there are several here, with my favourite lyrics contained on Dennis McGee�s �Two Step de la Ville Platte�. Unfortunately, these songs, as well as Michael Browne/Bee Markus�s �May You Come and Stay�, are characterized by a repetitive and gratingly-pitched fiddle. Although the ringing �banjo-like� instrumentation (on modified guitar strings) on Artel Watson�s �Rambling Hobo� was fairly repetitive, too, its bubbling melody line was enchanting! Michael Jerome Browne�s vocals are very similar to those of John Hiatt (listen to �Pay Day�), another Mississippi John Hurt fan, so that�s another reason to like this CD. Michael is joined on vocals by the legendary Penny Lang on the gospel-tinged �Just Look Up�, and the Twin Rivers String Band (Jordan Officer, Michael Ball, Mary Gick and Jody Benjamin), is further enhanced by Stephen Barry on string bass, R.D. Harris on drums and Lucie Esperanza Markus on wailin�, to whom the closing lullaby, �Whole Heap of Little Horses� (you�ll need to turn up the volume), was probably directed. Overall, Michael Jerome Browne and the Twin River String Band have produced a powerful historic blending of Americana and l�Acadie in this collection of music. |
| MICHAEL JEROME BROWNE & THE TWIN RIVERS STRING BAND - MICHAEL JEROME BROWNE & THE TWIN RIVERS STRING BAND |
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