MURDER MURDER - FROM THE STILLHOUSE
2015 - Self Released
A degree in rocket science is probably not necessary to work out that the music the gifted Murder Murder write and perform consists of 'murder ballads!' It should also be added that they are not without humor, having called their fine first album 'Murder Murder Murder.' That is not to say there is much humour in their songs but the way they perform them is quite uplifting rather than set in deep depression.
In trying to give some idea of what they sound like comparisons to a band as peerless as the Old Crow Medicine Show are unavoidable but it doesn't take long when listening to this tremendous album by Murder Murder to realize that whilst they have stylistic similarities and as much fire and passion they cover a different musical range, albeit one that is generically immersed in 'old time' murder ballads but updated by an alt. country sensibility into their own unique genre. In fact it would be no exaggeration to say that every song they perform is rooted in murder balladry, something that in different hands could easily signal a recording that leaves the listener depressed but Murder Murder have achieved what would seem to be impossible; a recording that is not only highly listenable but also strangely uplifting!
The band hails from Ontario, Canada and displays the talents of Jon Danyliw on vocals, guitar and mandolin, Sam Cassio, vocals, guitar and mandolin, Geoff McCausland plays fiddle, Barry Miles on vocals, banjo and dobro, Kris Dickson on upright bass and Steph Duchesne handles percussion. They are basically a 'string band' with the addition of drums, and much of their quality is at times reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo with that slightly punked up country feel of many of the songs. It never feels contrived either, always having a totally natural feel with every one of the songs on this album being essential and contributing to the whole equally. Despite the mix of instruments there is never the feeling that the sound is too dense. There is clarity and excellent separation and the vocals and playing are not only highly skilled but also full of the fire and passion that helps set them apart from most bands, in some ways more than justifying the Old Crow comparisons. All of the vocalists are excellent, each being tonally different but stylistically very similar, again helping the album to flow, albeit with excellent, if subtle variations all tied together by some skilled and highly evocative harmonies.
There are eleven band original songs and one excellent raw uptempo cover of Guy Clarks The Last Gunfighter Ballad on this album that gets better with every listen, constantly revealing greater depth and nuance. Most of the songs are usually credited to the band although the main songwriters are Jonathan Danyliw, Sam Cassio, and sometimes Barry Miles. On this recording two are solely written by Miles, one by Danyliw, one co-write between the three of them and the remainder being two way co-writes between Danyliw and Sam Cassio. This broad range of writers ensures there is diversity on the recording but with no interruption to the flow of this terrific album on which everything blends beautifully.
The scene is set by Sweet Revenge, a song that has a speedy intro with acoustic guitar, banjo, dobro, drums and fiddle before the evocative lead vocal comes in on what could easily be termed an old hillbilly song. As you may expect though, there is far more to this music that also includes a strong punked up alt. country feel with plenty of fire and passion. It is followed by When The Water Runs Black a tale that has a slower start with a mournful fiddle and banjo, soon joined by drums etc on a song that has a powerful dynamism, taking off with the lead vocals and assisted by some excellent harmonies and a tremendous banjo lead, eventually becoming quite an epic as it ebbs and flows beautifully. Duck Cove is another epic, this one starting off with dobro, fiddle and bass drum before lead vocal and harmonies come in and then things start to speed up signifantly as the song flows, eventually including mandolin in the lineup and building into a dramatic crescendo. When The Lord Calls Your Name is a slow moody tale that has more of a reflective feel, with dobro, drums, fiddle and occasional mandolin adding colour to an excellent song. The dynamic lead vocal from Barry Miles is eventually joined by keyboards on a passionate tale given even more power by Miles soulful vocal on a highly dramatic song. Finally Bridge County '41 begins with moody drum, banjo and fiddle on a sad country outlaw tale that has a rawness that befits the subject matter with another atmospheric vocal by Barry Miles. The instrumentation is beautifully arranged and becomes more incessant as the explosive climax gets nearer!
Fairly obviously I love this album! The band are working in a loose generic field in which it is still possible to show a little originality, something they have achieved with interest. The very loose 'alt. country' sub genre is a crowded catch all for bands influenced by various doses of other genres and sub genres such as country, old timey, punk, rock and perhaps even a little blues. That little lot often enables bands to show a little originality but few show as much as Murder Murder and I can't really think of any that do it better. No doubt there will be other great albums and bands coming along this year, but it really doesn't get any better than this. Great album by a great band!
http://murdermurder.net/
A degree in rocket science is probably not necessary to work out that the music the gifted Murder Murder write and perform consists of 'murder ballads!' It should also be added that they are not without humor, having called their fine first album 'Murder Murder Murder.' That is not to say there is much humour in their songs but the way they perform them is quite uplifting rather than set in deep depression.
In trying to give some idea of what they sound like comparisons to a band as peerless as the Old Crow Medicine Show are unavoidable but it doesn't take long when listening to this tremendous album by Murder Murder to realize that whilst they have stylistic similarities and as much fire and passion they cover a different musical range, albeit one that is generically immersed in 'old time' murder ballads but updated by an alt. country sensibility into their own unique genre. In fact it would be no exaggeration to say that every song they perform is rooted in murder balladry, something that in different hands could easily signal a recording that leaves the listener depressed but Murder Murder have achieved what would seem to be impossible; a recording that is not only highly listenable but also strangely uplifting!
The band hails from Ontario, Canada and displays the talents of Jon Danyliw on vocals, guitar and mandolin, Sam Cassio, vocals, guitar and mandolin, Geoff McCausland plays fiddle, Barry Miles on vocals, banjo and dobro, Kris Dickson on upright bass and Steph Duchesne handles percussion. They are basically a 'string band' with the addition of drums, and much of their quality is at times reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo with that slightly punked up country feel of many of the songs. It never feels contrived either, always having a totally natural feel with every one of the songs on this album being essential and contributing to the whole equally. Despite the mix of instruments there is never the feeling that the sound is too dense. There is clarity and excellent separation and the vocals and playing are not only highly skilled but also full of the fire and passion that helps set them apart from most bands, in some ways more than justifying the Old Crow comparisons. All of the vocalists are excellent, each being tonally different but stylistically very similar, again helping the album to flow, albeit with excellent, if subtle variations all tied together by some skilled and highly evocative harmonies.
There are eleven band original songs and one excellent raw uptempo cover of Guy Clarks The Last Gunfighter Ballad on this album that gets better with every listen, constantly revealing greater depth and nuance. Most of the songs are usually credited to the band although the main songwriters are Jonathan Danyliw, Sam Cassio, and sometimes Barry Miles. On this recording two are solely written by Miles, one by Danyliw, one co-write between the three of them and the remainder being two way co-writes between Danyliw and Sam Cassio. This broad range of writers ensures there is diversity on the recording but with no interruption to the flow of this terrific album on which everything blends beautifully.
The scene is set by Sweet Revenge, a song that has a speedy intro with acoustic guitar, banjo, dobro, drums and fiddle before the evocative lead vocal comes in on what could easily be termed an old hillbilly song. As you may expect though, there is far more to this music that also includes a strong punked up alt. country feel with plenty of fire and passion. It is followed by When The Water Runs Black a tale that has a slower start with a mournful fiddle and banjo, soon joined by drums etc on a song that has a powerful dynamism, taking off with the lead vocals and assisted by some excellent harmonies and a tremendous banjo lead, eventually becoming quite an epic as it ebbs and flows beautifully. Duck Cove is another epic, this one starting off with dobro, fiddle and bass drum before lead vocal and harmonies come in and then things start to speed up signifantly as the song flows, eventually including mandolin in the lineup and building into a dramatic crescendo. When The Lord Calls Your Name is a slow moody tale that has more of a reflective feel, with dobro, drums, fiddle and occasional mandolin adding colour to an excellent song. The dynamic lead vocal from Barry Miles is eventually joined by keyboards on a passionate tale given even more power by Miles soulful vocal on a highly dramatic song. Finally Bridge County '41 begins with moody drum, banjo and fiddle on a sad country outlaw tale that has a rawness that befits the subject matter with another atmospheric vocal by Barry Miles. The instrumentation is beautifully arranged and becomes more incessant as the explosive climax gets nearer!
Fairly obviously I love this album! The band are working in a loose generic field in which it is still possible to show a little originality, something they have achieved with interest. The very loose 'alt. country' sub genre is a crowded catch all for bands influenced by various doses of other genres and sub genres such as country, old timey, punk, rock and perhaps even a little blues. That little lot often enables bands to show a little originality but few show as much as Murder Murder and I can't really think of any that do it better. No doubt there will be other great albums and bands coming along this year, but it really doesn't get any better than this. Great album by a great band!
http://murdermurder.net/