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

Great American Trainwreck - Sweet Pepper Jelly

11/19/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Great American Trainwreck

Sweet Pepper Jelly
​self-released; 2021

4.0 out of 5

By J. J. Thayer
​
Sweet Pepper Jelly is the sophomore release from Seattle, Washington sextet Great American Trainwreck. The band, formed in 2017, is fronted by Stephanie Ward (vocals/acoustic guitar). She’s joined by Chuck Dunklin (tenor guitar/mandolin), Andy Basinger (keyboards), Dan Rogers (bass), Dave Bush (percussion) and Judd Wasserman (vocals).

This album fits right into the Americana genre. The tracks feature guitars (electric and acoustic), piano, and organ over straightforward bass parts which are locked in with drums. There’s a little pedal steel (capably played by Matt Teske) worked in here and there for good measure. Ward’s sweet vocals take the lead most of the way with Wasserman’s backing work blending nicely. They describe their music as a blend of “multiple genres, including southern rock, bluegrass, and classic country”, and that’s precisely what they’ve delivered.

Great American Trainwreck sets itself apart from your standard Americana group with its use of keyboards. On Sweet Pepper Jelly, they’re much more prominent than we’ve come to expect. Basinger’s organs and pianos are everywhere, and many songs feature solo sections on both organ and piano. With all of this playing, he must have been exhausted by the end of the recording sessions. I hope the band gave him an extra session fee, or least a gift card for a manicure.

The songs, penned by Ward and Dunkin, are straightforward and catchy. They tell us that they aimed for “melodic hooks and intense harmonies without sacrificing simple song structure and thoughtful lyrics” and they’ve succeeded. Little passages throughout will catch your ears and have you singing or humming along.

There are winners all over the twelve-song set, but my two favorites were “Hold Onto Me” and “Great Divide.” “Hold Onto Me” is a solid pop-country ditty that grabs you straight away with its opening guitar leads. The vocal harmonies really shined, and Basinger drops in a particularly funky overdriven electric piano solo. “Great Divide” finds the band letting it out a bit, and features another Basinger electric piano solo. Bush finally gets his turn in the spotlight with a drum breakdown that morphs into a drum-and-bass groove where he digs into the bag of tricks for the vibraslap and other fun percussion bits. The ending reminded me of a Dream Academy tune, if it had been run through a Nashville production studio.

Other fun tracks to check out include “Lay With You” (with Basinger doing his best Floyd Cramer impression) and “Rail Rider,” which presents itself as a dance track with its horns and rhythm guitar figures. 

​Give Sweet Pepper Jelly a taste:  you’ll find something to spread into your Americana rotation.
Great American Trainwreck · Sweet Pepper Jelly
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

    July 2022
    June 2022
    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