The SteelDrivers - Reckless (2010)

The bluegrass streak continues, and I am excited! The Quickcrit faithful are probably well aware of my bone-deep affinity for The SteelDrivers, and their new album "Reckless" is ridiculous. For those not familiar with The SteelDrivers I will say this band makes me want to read more, so I can have a better understanding of the English language and poetically describe their sound to strangers. I just said I want to read more people; let that sink in for a minute. This is one powerful force of a band. Chris Stapleton's vocals and songwriting is some of the best I've heard in years, in any genre, and the plucky banjo combined with the country-road fiddlin' is very simple, special and essential, all at the same time. There's something about bluegrass, especially The SteelDrivers, that reminds me of the basic things. Simple things that give me a shit-eating grin and a bounce in my step, even though they both don't come around an awful lot. But when they do, they can make your week. Few quick examples: using the word "chagrin" in a sentence, and hearing the phrase "Smith converts on 3rd down".* They both happen, but not nearly enough. This last example is somewhat abstract, but I felt obliged to mention it anyway. I live in a fairly metropolitan city, full of traffic jams, alarm clocks, tall buildings, and concrete. I must say it's easy to forget that the whole world does not look this way, and operate on deadlines, paperwork, and bus schedules. I am reminded of this reality by surprise twice a month when the street-sweepers push the leaves, and dirt into a gigantic pile next to where I park my car. When I leave for work at three in the morning I am hit with a big earthy smell, which instantly reminds me that the food I eat does not come from Safeway. The SteelDrivers hit me like that compost heap and wake my sleepwalking soul. They are like that jolt of earthy goodness that puts me at ease and a smile on my face. The whole album is great, but some songs that need to be checked out are "Where Rainbows Never Die", which is high in the runnings for my favorite song of 2010. Also listen to "Can You Run" and "You Put The Hurt On Me". Enjoy folks!

*Sorry to non-Niner fans who might not get the reference.

Jones Street Station - In Verses (2009)

I'm on the fence with Jones Street Station. On one hand, they write catchy country rock that's immediately accessible. I liked the casual back porch harmonies and banjo right away. On the other hand, the music is scrubbed clean in places where it could use more riffs and grit. The final chorus on the pretty "Evergreen" hints that the lyrics might sound better as a guttural howl. On "The Just Keep Disappearing on Me", it's apparent that the soaring yet gravely voice was made for southern rock. A couple songs start slow, but build up to anthemic country rockers featuring a wailing harmonica. I love the punk group shout along at the end of "Neville", while"Winter Waltz" reminds me of the Band and features some soulful country vocals. But overall, they stop short of letting loose and as a result the album sounds a bit tame. They clearly are accomplished musicians, so maybe they need to be seen live.

The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (2009)

"Charles Darwin", the lead track on the Low Anthem's new album is absolutely gorgeous. It has an angelic quality, like the Whiles' "Lonesome Reply" or the Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal". After the beautiful quiet folk of "To Ohio", the band picks up the tempo and switches to a couple of backwoods sing-alongs with scratchy, gargled-sand vocals and roughly strummed guitar on "Horizon Is A Beltway" and "Home I'll Never Be". Then it's mostly back the quiet lullabies. On "Cage The Songbird" Ben Knox Miller's voice sounds a little like Phil Collins, which in this case isn't a bad thing. This album might have benefited from the division provided by the sides of an LP, but regardless of tone, all the songs mentioned are great.