Album Reviews

4 Way Street

Pretzel Park

2004-04-06

Boy, talk about guts.
Copping the name of CSN&Y's quintessential disc makes this quartet of singer/songwriters (Ben Arnold, Jim Boggia, Scott Bricklin and Joseph Parsons) an easy tartet for those who think that lofty mountains can't be climbed again. Fortunately for them, they get well into the foothills with well-crafted songs and sublime harmonies.

Unlike The Thorns who perfected the three way harmonies but forgot about writing songs that stick with, this accidental group (they hooked up at an open mic night) digs in a bit deeper lyrically and adds enough grit to the harmonies to keep them from sliding by unnoticed.

Echoes of the Jayhawks, Wilco, Tom Petty and, yese, even CSN&Y creep into the mix. With songs addressing everything from self-efficiency, to a timely anti-war protest to an eastern-inflected trip into Bombay, there is much to like here.

Quick Links:

all reviews | all rock reviews

More reviews tagged #Rock

reviewed 08/2006
Raul Malo
You're Only Lonely
reviewed 09/2014
ADRIAN YOUNGE PRESENTS: SOULS OF MISCHIEF
There Is Only Now
reviewed 03/2009
Nathan Kalish and The Wildfire
Waterbirds
reviewed 03/2010
BEN HARPER AND THE RELENTLESS SEVEN
Live From the Montreal International Jazz Festival
reviewed 03/2006
UMPHREYS MCGEE
Safety in Numbers
reviewed 02/2013
DJ SUN
One Hundred

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.