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 06/2004
Glenn Tilbrook
Transatlantic Ping Pong
reviewed 01/2007
BACKYARD TIRE FIRE
Vagabonds and Hooligans
reviewed 08/2010
THE INNOCENCE MISSION
My Room in the Trees
reviewed 03/2005
John Doe
Forever Hasn't Happened Yet
reviewed 11/2013
The Goldberg Sisters
Stranger's Morning
reviewed 03/2007
Space Vs. Time
The Old and New Avant-Garde

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.