PINE STREET RAMBLERS - HAZY SHADES OF GOLD
2016 - Pine Street Records.
On first listen to this album and until about half way through the first track I thought "this is going to be a really good modern day album of 'classic' string band music" but whilst this tremendous four piece are a string band they cover so much more. In fact, whilst they don't really sound all that much like them I keep comparing them to those giants of early 'country rock,' the New Riders of the Purple Sage, who, throughout the early 1970s I thought were the one of the best things I'd ever heard; still are if it comes to that. I'm even reminded on occasions of early Dr. Hook before they lost their edginess and became a little too sanitized by their huge success, not that I would assume these 'Ramblers' have anything against that level of fame; they are certainly more than capable of achieving it. What made the 'New Riders' so great was the fact that they were virtuoso's on their instruments, came up with myriad variations on country music, great vocals, and great songs with an attitude that made and still makes the listener think that whilst they were serious about their music they didn't take themselves too seriously.
That description, without exception, can now also be applied to the Pine Street Ramblers on this their first full length album, although it is also true to say the 'Ramblers' show even more diversity in their music thanks to their string band tap root and, importantly, with a strong edge of modernity throughout. They hail from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, from the town of Auburn, California and the four members are JD Gardemeyer on pedal steel, dobro, banjo and writer of eleven of the twelve song, JT Lawrence plays mandolin, fiddle, telecaster and wrote the one remaining song, Travis Sinel on acoustic guitar and Dave Cox plays the upright bass. So no drummer included in their line up but such are their skills that drums would be superfluous, even on the songs that veer towards country rock. Unusually, all four are excellent vocalists and take the lead on at least one song each and whilst many bands produce excellent three or four part harmonies the Pine Street Ramblers have few peers in that department.
There is so much spirit, fire and colour in every song and whilst various generic threads are often recognizable, their variations automatically qualify them as being a highly original string band who are really pushing the boundaries deep into other sub genres. After all, there can be few bands who play what can be termed 'hillbilly' music alongside classic country rock, whilst including various other threads and off shoots of country music, but do it in such a comfortable and natural way that everything blends seamlessly, producing a hugely entertaining album. 'Entertaining' often indicates comedic elements but in this bands case it is intended to portray the depth and variations in each of these tremendous compositions, always keeping the listener enthralled and wondering what they will come up with next. Whilst the songs have depth, there is also a hugely appealing lightness to the way some are projected in the playing and particularly the vocals that comes across as a virtuosic 'ramshackleness!' 'Ramshackle' is often used as an insult but this band are so together that it is merely used to express that relaxed attitude that only the very best bands can ever hope to attain. I remember a few years ago seeing the Old Crow Medicine Show perform live at one of the best gigs I have ever witnessed. They epitomized the good side of being 'ramshackle,' again because they were so relaxed and at home and seemingly confident in their abilities to entertain the crowd with their tremendous vocal performances and instrumental virtuosity. Whilst stylistically different I suspect this band would have the same effect in a live setting as the esteemed 'Old Crows;' they certainly do on this recording.
The first track on the album is, as I said above, a little deceptive; it has a lovely dobro intro that is soon joined by fiddle, guitar and JT Lawrence's expressive 'backwoods' vocal on a song that has much of the old 'hillbilly' style. The mandolin is also much in evidence and when the band harmonies come in you just know this is not 'untutored hillbilly music,' but is actually a hugely talented new band that are capable of anything they choose to do. By the end of this song alone the listener knows that the album is not going to lack stylistic variations but has served to whet the appetite for what follows. What does follow is War wagon with its melodic mandolin intro soon joined by bass and banjo before Travis Sinel comes in with an excellent lead vocal and band harmonies that are reminiscent of many of the greats of country rock. The song actually comes across as a string band playing country rock, which it certainly is, but those harmonies lift the song way above the light feel the song actually has. A gorgeous steel guitar gets California wine under way accompanied by mandolin and acoustic guitar and an evocative 'pure rural' vocal from Travis with excellent bass. The mandolin is 'chugging' in the background on a song that stylistically is at least vaguely reminiscent of the New Riders and probably numerous other bands of the past but this band updates the style for the 21st century. There is a gorgeous dobro sound with a propulsive acoustic guitar and bass on Rounder, with Dave Cox on lead vocal plus band harmonies on a song that is reminiscent of both country rock and bluegrass, but is certainly rooted in country with their own highly individual take on the genre. Final mention has to be of Hightail Alabama, the only song on which JD Gardemeyer, the man responsible for the writing of eleven songs takes lead vocal. He is certainly not shamed by the other band members vocals on this song that has a strong 'old timey' feel with the usual tremendous playing but the addition of an extraordinary mandolin solo that blends beautifully with the banjo on a tale that helps create the atmosphere of an old time 'hoedown.'
I know it gets as boring for readers to read it as it does for me saying it, but this tremendous album is another that is certainly destined for my albums of the year list. Above all else the Pine Street Ramblers are a string band, but one that have diverse strong influences that enable them to explore other sub genres that include country rock. I don't know if that, now decade's old, musical form is something they were trying to explore; I suspect not and that is what makes their take on it so fresh and original. Again, I can't say for sure and perhaps they couldn't either but I get the impression that all of the songs and particularly the stylistic arrangements were arrived at purely through their natural depth of feeling and development rather than any contrived formula. Add those variations to their completely natural string band proclivities and certainly speaking for myself, there is nothing more I could wish for, musically at least! This may be early days in their band career to make judgements but to me this is a great album by a great band!
http://pinestreetramblers.bandzoogle.com/
On first listen to this album and until about half way through the first track I thought "this is going to be a really good modern day album of 'classic' string band music" but whilst this tremendous four piece are a string band they cover so much more. In fact, whilst they don't really sound all that much like them I keep comparing them to those giants of early 'country rock,' the New Riders of the Purple Sage, who, throughout the early 1970s I thought were the one of the best things I'd ever heard; still are if it comes to that. I'm even reminded on occasions of early Dr. Hook before they lost their edginess and became a little too sanitized by their huge success, not that I would assume these 'Ramblers' have anything against that level of fame; they are certainly more than capable of achieving it. What made the 'New Riders' so great was the fact that they were virtuoso's on their instruments, came up with myriad variations on country music, great vocals, and great songs with an attitude that made and still makes the listener think that whilst they were serious about their music they didn't take themselves too seriously.
That description, without exception, can now also be applied to the Pine Street Ramblers on this their first full length album, although it is also true to say the 'Ramblers' show even more diversity in their music thanks to their string band tap root and, importantly, with a strong edge of modernity throughout. They hail from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, from the town of Auburn, California and the four members are JD Gardemeyer on pedal steel, dobro, banjo and writer of eleven of the twelve song, JT Lawrence plays mandolin, fiddle, telecaster and wrote the one remaining song, Travis Sinel on acoustic guitar and Dave Cox plays the upright bass. So no drummer included in their line up but such are their skills that drums would be superfluous, even on the songs that veer towards country rock. Unusually, all four are excellent vocalists and take the lead on at least one song each and whilst many bands produce excellent three or four part harmonies the Pine Street Ramblers have few peers in that department.
There is so much spirit, fire and colour in every song and whilst various generic threads are often recognizable, their variations automatically qualify them as being a highly original string band who are really pushing the boundaries deep into other sub genres. After all, there can be few bands who play what can be termed 'hillbilly' music alongside classic country rock, whilst including various other threads and off shoots of country music, but do it in such a comfortable and natural way that everything blends seamlessly, producing a hugely entertaining album. 'Entertaining' often indicates comedic elements but in this bands case it is intended to portray the depth and variations in each of these tremendous compositions, always keeping the listener enthralled and wondering what they will come up with next. Whilst the songs have depth, there is also a hugely appealing lightness to the way some are projected in the playing and particularly the vocals that comes across as a virtuosic 'ramshackleness!' 'Ramshackle' is often used as an insult but this band are so together that it is merely used to express that relaxed attitude that only the very best bands can ever hope to attain. I remember a few years ago seeing the Old Crow Medicine Show perform live at one of the best gigs I have ever witnessed. They epitomized the good side of being 'ramshackle,' again because they were so relaxed and at home and seemingly confident in their abilities to entertain the crowd with their tremendous vocal performances and instrumental virtuosity. Whilst stylistically different I suspect this band would have the same effect in a live setting as the esteemed 'Old Crows;' they certainly do on this recording.
The first track on the album is, as I said above, a little deceptive; it has a lovely dobro intro that is soon joined by fiddle, guitar and JT Lawrence's expressive 'backwoods' vocal on a song that has much of the old 'hillbilly' style. The mandolin is also much in evidence and when the band harmonies come in you just know this is not 'untutored hillbilly music,' but is actually a hugely talented new band that are capable of anything they choose to do. By the end of this song alone the listener knows that the album is not going to lack stylistic variations but has served to whet the appetite for what follows. What does follow is War wagon with its melodic mandolin intro soon joined by bass and banjo before Travis Sinel comes in with an excellent lead vocal and band harmonies that are reminiscent of many of the greats of country rock. The song actually comes across as a string band playing country rock, which it certainly is, but those harmonies lift the song way above the light feel the song actually has. A gorgeous steel guitar gets California wine under way accompanied by mandolin and acoustic guitar and an evocative 'pure rural' vocal from Travis with excellent bass. The mandolin is 'chugging' in the background on a song that stylistically is at least vaguely reminiscent of the New Riders and probably numerous other bands of the past but this band updates the style for the 21st century. There is a gorgeous dobro sound with a propulsive acoustic guitar and bass on Rounder, with Dave Cox on lead vocal plus band harmonies on a song that is reminiscent of both country rock and bluegrass, but is certainly rooted in country with their own highly individual take on the genre. Final mention has to be of Hightail Alabama, the only song on which JD Gardemeyer, the man responsible for the writing of eleven songs takes lead vocal. He is certainly not shamed by the other band members vocals on this song that has a strong 'old timey' feel with the usual tremendous playing but the addition of an extraordinary mandolin solo that blends beautifully with the banjo on a tale that helps create the atmosphere of an old time 'hoedown.'
I know it gets as boring for readers to read it as it does for me saying it, but this tremendous album is another that is certainly destined for my albums of the year list. Above all else the Pine Street Ramblers are a string band, but one that have diverse strong influences that enable them to explore other sub genres that include country rock. I don't know if that, now decade's old, musical form is something they were trying to explore; I suspect not and that is what makes their take on it so fresh and original. Again, I can't say for sure and perhaps they couldn't either but I get the impression that all of the songs and particularly the stylistic arrangements were arrived at purely through their natural depth of feeling and development rather than any contrived formula. Add those variations to their completely natural string band proclivities and certainly speaking for myself, there is nothing more I could wish for, musically at least! This may be early days in their band career to make judgements but to me this is a great album by a great band!
http://pinestreetramblers.bandzoogle.com/