JOY KILLS SORROW

Darkness Sure Becomes This City

2010-02-25

This Boston-based band takes a bluegrass foundation and adds innovation in both songwriting and musicianship. At times, the cuts seem "old-timey," like the Gary, Indiana* radio station WJKS, from when comes the band's name (cf. "New Shoes" and "We Will Have Our Day"). In other moments, the break from the expected brings added interest and depth (cf. title track, "All the Buildings"). The group is kind of an "acoustic all-star" configuration: the mandolin player is the first-ever graduate from the prestigious Berklee School of Music on that instrument; the guitarist has a "flatpicking championship" under his belt; the primary lyricist is a John Lennon Songwriting Award winner; and the main vocalist won a national Canadian folk music performing honor. Nice that they all found one another. Give this disc a spin. Michael J. 02/10 F-Americana [*How a Gary, Indiana station got away with playing bluegrass might be interesting research sometime.]

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 03/2011

    CAITLIN ROSE
    Own Side Now

  • reviewed 02/2009

    FRIGHTENED RABBIT
    The Midnight Organ Fight

  • reviewed 10/2007

    PAT CONTE
    Gravest Hits

  • reviewed 09/2006

    Robert Earl Keen
    Live at the Ryman

  • reviewed 09/2006

    VARIOUS ARTISTS
    Mews Too

  • reviewed 04/2013

    TIM EASTON
    BEFORE THE REVOLUTION THE BEST OF 1998-2011

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.