2008-05-12
This is country! Not bluegrass, not old-timey, not Kenny Chesney, just good ol’ country music! The core of most of the songs is guitar (with the perfect amount of twang), fiddle, the occasional pedal steel, and understated lyrics on less-than-happy topics (stuff like love lost, a gun-toting ex, travel across state lines… you know, country). This album has done well on the Americana Radio Chart even though these guys just self-produced it out of their home base, New York City. Pretty much any track is worth a listen. Tracks 1 and 2 have more drive than most of the others, and if you like a full-blown country sound complete with banjo and mando, try Dakota (track 7). Also, Nick Beaudoing, the front man, is a southern Acadian so there are a couple of Cajun two-steps thrown in (tracks 4 and 8), complete with accordian. The last song is a nice waltz. - LewGuy Clark
Workbench Songs
THE HANGDOG HEARTS
The Hangdog Hearts
CLAUDIA SCHIMIDT
Live at the Dakota
Rachel Harrington
City of Refuge
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Exploration
MISSY HIGGINS
The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
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