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Tracks - (click
a song title to hear a sample)
• Hommage
a Edmond Parizo / Dedicado a Jos (Trad.)
• Fickle Wind (Steve
Chiasson)
• Songbird (Jesse Winchester)
• Don't
Close Your Eyes (Bob McDill)
• I'm
An Ol' Cowhand (Johnny Mercer)
• Ragtime (Traditional)
• White
House In The Valley (Steve Chiasson)
• Nellie Kane (Tim
O'Brien)
• Pick
Me Up, Mama (Steve Chiasson)
• Colleen Malone
(P. Goble & L. Drum)
• Virginia (Steve Chiasson)
• How Many
Roads (Malcolm Pulley)
• Wild
Rose Of The Mountain (Si Kahn)
• Down
By The River (Steve Chiasson)
Reviews
Pardon
the pun, but Roots & Branches came
right out of the woods, and though there's a certain
country-ish, organic sound to this 14-song set,
it's also a nicely polished, highly professional
presentation. Not only are the songs well selected
(there are five originals, too) but the musicianship
- including the vocals - is terrific, and it's
recorded so you can hear the nuances of this band's
fine ensemble work. Guitarist
Steve Chiasson is the songwriter of the group.
His work includes the up-tempo bluegrass number "Fickle
Wind," which features just one example of
the fine interplay between Chiasson's guitar, banjoist
Chris Prickitt, and mandolinist Joachim Maier.
Joe Kennedy's harmonica adds a lonesome sound to
the mix. "White House In The Valley" slows
down to paint an idyllic picture of country life. "Pick
Me Up, Mama" is a snappy, humorous look at
early childhood as sung from the child's point
of view. Joe Kennedy's harp carries the melody
on "Virginia," which also features the
best harmonies on the record. The cd ends with "Down
By The River," sort of a rural version of "Up
On The Roof."
Fortunately,
there's little to choose between Chiasson's
songs and the covers, few of which are real
familiar. The cd opens with a fast-paced zydeco
instrumental medley, "Hommage a Edmond
Parizo / Dedicado a Jos" on which Prickitt
takes the lead on accordion. Bassist Nellie
Kennedy sings the plaintive yet upbeat "Don't
Close Your Eyes," and Chiasson does a
great job with Jesse Winchester's "Songbird." Prickitt
sings a fine bluegrass number called "Nellie
Kane." But perhaps the best song of all
is their take on the Dan Hicks version of "I'm
An Ol' Cowhand." Not only does Joe Kennedy
do a great job of singing it, but his harp
work is top-notch, too.
I'm
not sure what kind of career move you make
based in Dexter, maine, but Evergreen has almost
everything going for it from a musical point
of view. Perhaps the fact that they work outside
of the rock 'n' roll genre will make it easier
for them to gain exposure outside their home
territory without abandoning their everyday
lives.
Face
Magazine, Portland, ME-- (back
to top) |
