Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

alder street - Americannibal

12/2/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Alder Street 

Americannibal
self-released 2014

4.0 out of 5

By Ted Rogen


Alder Street isn’t your typical bluegrass band. The band comprised of Ian Royer (guitar), Chris Kelley (banjo) Aaron Nelson (bass), Jake Beckwith (fiddle), Jesse Lawton (mandolin) and Emily West (drums) bring their own off kilter style of bluegrass on their exceptional album entitled Americannibal. Genres aside this album is extremely fun. The songs resonate with a loose, festive nature that feels organic. It sounds live in the best way possible – it’s the sound of people playing in a room together. The production is minimal and is all the better for it as the instruments sound clear, crisp and as if you are listening to the band play at a venue. The album isn’t exactly short at twelve songs but it’s a breeze to get through. It’s a case of hit play and enjoy.

The first song “The Skinner” is a personal favorite of mine as sound like something you would hear at a Russian circus that had a bit of a Persian/Klezmer theme going. At the focal center is the fiddle, which holds down the fort with some snazzy lead work. The song benefits from tempo changes that sound natural instead of forced and by the end the little dance you were doing has turned to a full fledged sweaty workout. 

“Meat Wagon” is more a straightforward bluegrass song but is still one heck of a knee slapping good time. The vocals are top notch as is pretty much everything else in the song. “House” features female vocals, slows things down a bit and features some mandolin work that will remind you of “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead. It was evident to me that the band enjoys changing BPM. The second half speeds thing up quite a bit, which changes the mood of the song.

“Girl With a Curl” contains some story telling folk on top of the bluegrass while “Johnny Goes To Hell” has some wicked fast vocal melodies, which are a delight to listen to. They close with "Satan’s Mandolin", which showcases some technical mastery you don’t want to miss.

Bluegrass bands are a dime a dozen but what Alder Street has done on Americannibal is back up the fun, festive vibe that bluegrass provides with substantial songs. It is easy to put on this album and enjoy it upon first listen but with repeated listens the songs start to resonate in ways not all bluegrass does. Americannibal is a substantial effort and I am almost positive you won’t be disappointed with what you hear.
official website
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact