BLIND CORN LIQUOR PICKERS – MYTHS & ROUTINES
2012 – Blind Corn Music
4****
On first couple of listens to this, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers fourth album, I just didn’t get what they were trying
to achieve. I then purchased digital versions of their previous three albums, had a good listen to them and the picture cleared a little. The problem, as I saw it, was that there are so many disparate elements fighting for survival, such as the banjo and mandolin competing with drums and electric guitar on music
that is basically acoustic based Appalachian in feel. As if that was not enough their lead vocalist Beth Walker has a voice that is more steeped in blues than ‘hillbilly’ perhaps even veering towards a soul or rhythm & blues ‘shouter.’ Whilst their first two albums consisted of male lead vocals, by the time their 2008 album ‘Appalachian Trail’ was released Beth was a full member and took on most of the lead vocals. Their music originally, whilst slotting into the bluegrass or to a degree old timey, consisted of songs with either comedic or political elements as well as good time drinking songs and ‘murder ballads.’ This changed a little on ‘Appalachian trail’ but on this current recording there
are only three members of that band remaining and as Travis Young, lyricist and banjo player told me via email, ‘there are some new themes on this album, themes of heartbreak, existential crisis, parenthood and personal discovery, themes that are probably inevitable for a band that's fast approaching middle age. To match the new themes we revamped the sound, adding drums and electric guitar to the mix, and working in new members who fit the new vision. Once we were satisfied, we took it all down to local indie rock engineer Duane Lundy (Ben Sollee, Vandaveer,
These United States), who put the finishing touches on the arrangements and tracked all the tunes.
The band is now a seven piece with the only surviving members from that previous album being Beth Walker on guitar and most lead vocals, Joel Serdenis, vocals, guitar and mandolin and Travis Young on banjo. The remainder of the new lineup is Frank Ward, vocals and guitar, Ben
Vogelpohl on drums, Nick Fahey plays Electric Guitar and Will Rush, bass. In the case of the songwriting, Travis writes most of the lyrics and Joel Serdenis most of the music, whilst Beth Walker and Frank Ward contributed a song each.
Strangely, on‘Appalachian Trail’ Beth’s vocals seemed a little further back in the mix and captured that appealingly untutored ‘hillbilly’ feel that gives the music much of it’s authenticity. On
this one she seems a little more forward and there is more of a tutored or perhaps confident feel, as a consequence of which she seems to stretch out more, instilling her vocals with a tremendous power that at times seems a little at odds with the music; almost like a powerful soul or rhythm and blues singer trying to blend with a hillbilly band. In much of this they do succeed thanks to the tremendous musical talents within the band and aided by the use of electric guitar and drums that takes a little of the edge of the ‘hillbilliness,’ signalling the fact that this is no ordinary Appalachian folk band but one that is determined to experiment as far as their talents will allow; and that is quite some distance!
Every song is incredibly well written, with a strong memorable melody and lyrics that really paint pictures of people, events and places. On most of the twelve songs Beth is lead vocalist but there
are some excellent harmonies and several evocative lead vocals from male band members, particularly on The welder, a tale with a large slab of humour on which they all seem to chip in with
vocals on a song that is more in line with their previous releases. It starts with a chiming mandolin intro followed by lead vocals which are shared between Beth and Joel with harmonies from all on what is basically an excellent, highly irreverent good time drinking song that includes some terrific fiddle playing as well. Reaper’s Jug is a powerful, defiant paean to ‘moonshine’ and an affront to the grim reaper! The power of Beths vocals and the hard driving instrumentation that includes chiming mandolin and banjo should see him off on this blend of old timey and alt. country. North Carolina kicks off with a lovely fiddle and mandolin, before Beth enters with her powerful vocal and some nice acoustic guitar on this tribute to the state. TheGreat Unknown is a gorgeous straight country song with Beth almost showing a little restraint and tenderness, with lovely steel guitar and mandolin, joined by nice chiming banjo. Terrific song, as is The Open Sea (Cohen’s Song) with the lovely chiming mandolin and banjo joined by the electric guitar on a song that veers from a ‘hillbilly’ feel to country rock with some evocative group harmonies and Beth’s increasingly soulful lead vocal. In many ways a song that shows off the bands diversity within the space of four minutes!
Challenging, the album may be, but the more I play it the more I enjoy it! The term ‘a grower’could have been coined to describe this album of so many diverse elements that do actually seem to gradually blend together into a highly original strain of roots music that includes country, country rock, old timey, bluegrass, blues, soul and a few other disparate elements. Those elements don’t always work too well together but when they do this album bursts with an ebullient musicality. Even where it doesn’t quite work you get the impression that this band are never going to stop their experimentation and toe the line. I certainly hope they don’t and whilst I can’t say I like everything on it, ultimately, I love the album!
http://www.myspace.com/blindcornliquorpickers
http://www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=43852
4****
On first couple of listens to this, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers fourth album, I just didn’t get what they were trying
to achieve. I then purchased digital versions of their previous three albums, had a good listen to them and the picture cleared a little. The problem, as I saw it, was that there are so many disparate elements fighting for survival, such as the banjo and mandolin competing with drums and electric guitar on music
that is basically acoustic based Appalachian in feel. As if that was not enough their lead vocalist Beth Walker has a voice that is more steeped in blues than ‘hillbilly’ perhaps even veering towards a soul or rhythm & blues ‘shouter.’ Whilst their first two albums consisted of male lead vocals, by the time their 2008 album ‘Appalachian Trail’ was released Beth was a full member and took on most of the lead vocals. Their music originally, whilst slotting into the bluegrass or to a degree old timey, consisted of songs with either comedic or political elements as well as good time drinking songs and ‘murder ballads.’ This changed a little on ‘Appalachian trail’ but on this current recording there
are only three members of that band remaining and as Travis Young, lyricist and banjo player told me via email, ‘there are some new themes on this album, themes of heartbreak, existential crisis, parenthood and personal discovery, themes that are probably inevitable for a band that's fast approaching middle age. To match the new themes we revamped the sound, adding drums and electric guitar to the mix, and working in new members who fit the new vision. Once we were satisfied, we took it all down to local indie rock engineer Duane Lundy (Ben Sollee, Vandaveer,
These United States), who put the finishing touches on the arrangements and tracked all the tunes.
The band is now a seven piece with the only surviving members from that previous album being Beth Walker on guitar and most lead vocals, Joel Serdenis, vocals, guitar and mandolin and Travis Young on banjo. The remainder of the new lineup is Frank Ward, vocals and guitar, Ben
Vogelpohl on drums, Nick Fahey plays Electric Guitar and Will Rush, bass. In the case of the songwriting, Travis writes most of the lyrics and Joel Serdenis most of the music, whilst Beth Walker and Frank Ward contributed a song each.
Strangely, on‘Appalachian Trail’ Beth’s vocals seemed a little further back in the mix and captured that appealingly untutored ‘hillbilly’ feel that gives the music much of it’s authenticity. On
this one she seems a little more forward and there is more of a tutored or perhaps confident feel, as a consequence of which she seems to stretch out more, instilling her vocals with a tremendous power that at times seems a little at odds with the music; almost like a powerful soul or rhythm and blues singer trying to blend with a hillbilly band. In much of this they do succeed thanks to the tremendous musical talents within the band and aided by the use of electric guitar and drums that takes a little of the edge of the ‘hillbilliness,’ signalling the fact that this is no ordinary Appalachian folk band but one that is determined to experiment as far as their talents will allow; and that is quite some distance!
Every song is incredibly well written, with a strong memorable melody and lyrics that really paint pictures of people, events and places. On most of the twelve songs Beth is lead vocalist but there
are some excellent harmonies and several evocative lead vocals from male band members, particularly on The welder, a tale with a large slab of humour on which they all seem to chip in with
vocals on a song that is more in line with their previous releases. It starts with a chiming mandolin intro followed by lead vocals which are shared between Beth and Joel with harmonies from all on what is basically an excellent, highly irreverent good time drinking song that includes some terrific fiddle playing as well. Reaper’s Jug is a powerful, defiant paean to ‘moonshine’ and an affront to the grim reaper! The power of Beths vocals and the hard driving instrumentation that includes chiming mandolin and banjo should see him off on this blend of old timey and alt. country. North Carolina kicks off with a lovely fiddle and mandolin, before Beth enters with her powerful vocal and some nice acoustic guitar on this tribute to the state. TheGreat Unknown is a gorgeous straight country song with Beth almost showing a little restraint and tenderness, with lovely steel guitar and mandolin, joined by nice chiming banjo. Terrific song, as is The Open Sea (Cohen’s Song) with the lovely chiming mandolin and banjo joined by the electric guitar on a song that veers from a ‘hillbilly’ feel to country rock with some evocative group harmonies and Beth’s increasingly soulful lead vocal. In many ways a song that shows off the bands diversity within the space of four minutes!
Challenging, the album may be, but the more I play it the more I enjoy it! The term ‘a grower’could have been coined to describe this album of so many diverse elements that do actually seem to gradually blend together into a highly original strain of roots music that includes country, country rock, old timey, bluegrass, blues, soul and a few other disparate elements. Those elements don’t always work too well together but when they do this album bursts with an ebullient musicality. Even where it doesn’t quite work you get the impression that this band are never going to stop their experimentation and toe the line. I certainly hope they don’t and whilst I can’t say I like everything on it, ultimately, I love the album!
http://www.myspace.com/blindcornliquorpickers
http://www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=43852