CD Review: Brother Mule’s Jawbone an instant hit
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Aaron Davis
Ben Winship, Brian Wicklund and Eric Thorin aren’t brothers by blood, but they’re so damn in tune with one another, you’d think they have some sibling intuition. The trio makes Brother Mule, and their sophomore release “Jawbone” (Snake River Records/2008) is a follow-up to “Big Twang,” which earned them the Indie Music Award’s Best Americana CD of 2005.
If you’re local, you already know that Winship is a highly respected, virtuosic multi-instrumentalist. He’s a regular performer with several projects in and around Jackson, and residents hold him dear to their folksy hearts (and get giddy when he releases a new disc).
It only took one listen through “Jawbone” to have me realize this is one of my favorite releases to come out of Winship’s Henhouse Studio. Above all, it’s the song choices. Though I haven’t browsed Winship’s entire discography, this is some of his strongest (if, at least, catchiest) songwriting to date. By the second listen through, I began to catch the subtleties that make this trio world-class.
Many of the tunes have a windows-down-radio-up kind of vibe, which Winship writes about in “Radio On,” with a memorable, bouncy melody that hooks you from the start. Forget all the versions of 18th-century folk song “Shady Grove - Half Past Four” you’ve heard over the years. This album’s refreshing version suits Wicklund’s Irish-leaning licks. The tune ends with a crafty weaving of fiddle and mando solos, noting another reason this trio gets props in the bluegrass world.
Bassist Thorin’s “Pool Bug” is the album’s anomaly. The dark, slow-waltzing melody gives way to an upbeat, Dawg-style groove with hot gypsy soloing by all three, notably Wicklund on both mando and fiddle. The instrumental implies that this pool bug is not to be messed with.
Throughout “Jawbone,” the three-part vocal harmonies and fiddle-mando harmonies add a tremendous depth, forgetting momentarily this is a string trio. Much of the track list is traditional, country-folk in nature, but there’s nothing dusty about the presentation - additional instruments like tenor guitar, bouzouki, octave mandolin, percussion and even tuba spice up the mix.
Winship’s “Take My Rest” could be the disc’s radio single, with simplistic lyrics glimpsing into a bird’s hardships. And Wicklund shines on the funk-grooved “Fiddler’s Dream,” thoughtfully arranged with ample percussion and a fun, improvisational section. Thorin steps up to the lead vocal mic on John Hartford’s “Here I am in Love Again,” and dishes out another intriguing bass solo before giving way to the closer “Trillium,” a Wicklund composed waltz that lulls the soul to near sleep.
Thorin’s presence is more evident on this recording than on “Big Twang,” and in general, the songs on “Jawbone” are less swing and more upbeat country-grass. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a solid piece of work and Mule fans will exponentially grow because of it.
Courtesy photoARTIST: Brother Mule l ALBUM: Jawbone l RECORDING STUDIO: Snake River Records/2008PERMALINK:
CD Review: Brother Mule’s Jawbone an instant hit | Planet JH News Article: General Music Arts and Culture
|
No comments for this Article.
|
Leave a Comment