cdreviewsonlinewinter2009

CDReviewsOnline
Winter 2009

2 "On The Radar" reviews

Featured CDs by Erik Balkey's Misson Street Project and Spook Handy

When I first reviewed Erik Balkey and Spook Handy as part of the "Under The Radar" Reviews they were already up and coming songwriters. Since that time both have made waves nationally and are really on the radar screen at this point--at least in folk music circles. But in case you have not heard of them or heard their latest cds, you need to. Balkey recently had the number 1 song in the country on folk radio charts with "My America" sung by Anne Hills and Handy's song "Vote" is a top 10 song on the folk charts and has become a favorite of none other than Pete Seeger, who performs it regularly. Both these CDs have charted high, Balkey's peaked at #2 while Handy's has remained on the folk charts near the Top 10 for months. While Handy and Balkey both hail from New Jersey and sing folk music, they sound completely different from each other. Interestingly though, their latest cds contain songs dealing with some of the same political and social issues.

In Spook Handy's 2008 release, Whatcha Gonna Do?, he still shows his spriritual side but is focused more on issues of peace and justice. He covers some new ground not only in his lyrics but quite notably in the use of his voice, which up until this CD had not showcased his outstanding falsetto. There are no false notes in any of his songs though. The favorites are:

1) Whatcha Gonna Do?- One of Spook's most interesting attributes is his ability to slip in musical references (as well as lyrical ones) that are almost subliminal. The acoustic guitar riff is wonderfully Beatlesque and while not obviously related to the lyrics, it gives the song a certain stature by allowing the listener to hook in right away. He also does some of his best singing ever on this title track.

2) Heading For The Hague- Finally someone comes right out and says it. Iraq has not been "bungled" nor is it a "mistake." It is a war crime under international law. This song is optimistic that justice will be served. While I am not so optimistic, it is a great piece of music that manages to be upbeat and matter of fact without sounding angry. It also manages to satisfy anyone who loves a good train song as much as it satisfies those who believe the past 8 years have been immoral.

3) Waist Deep In The Big Muddy--I generally don't like covers as much as originals, especially if they are the same arrangement as the original. While Spook is very much true to Pete Seeger's original, he does it so well, and it's such a good song, that it is one of my favorites. He also does a fine cover of one of my favorite classic John Prine songs, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore as well as a Holly Near song I had not heard before, I Ain't Afraid.

4) California Cool--This is a fun song that really makes some interesting musical references to 60's music. I never quite understood it until I read what Handy wrote about it in his liner notes, but not knowing is part of the fun of the song.

5) Death Came Anyway--This is a really deep song that is not an easy listen. According to Handy's description in his liner notes, he co-wrote it with singer/songwriter Flora Newberry. Few songs make you think about our existence as this song does.

6) Mom & Pops Smalltown Corner Hardware Store- The sign of a good songwriter is they can write about things everyone else feels but maybe cannot express as eloquently. Many of us miss the independent stores that are falling to the WallMarts of America. This song tells the sad story in an upbeat way. Some great playing going on here too-- fiddle, guitar, percussion all are really cooking!

And that brings us to the production on this album, which like its predecessor, Breakfast at Bills (see my review in archives) contains some of the best playing I have heard on a folk singer's cd. Kudos to all the players-Gary Oleyar, Paul Prestopino, Dave Post, Pat Wictor, Cheryl Prashker, Dave Rimelis, Gary Georgett and Steve Holloway, the harmony vocalists- Mara Levine, Dennis McDonough and Lucy Clark and to the two producers-Bob Harris and Spook Handy himself.

So if you want to hear good songwriting, good singing and good playing, I highly recommend you check these two feature CDs out right away. Erik Balkey's Mission Street Volume 2 CD, Make Levees can be heard at http://cdbaby.com/cd/missionstreet2 while Spook Handy's CD Whatcha Gonna Do? can be heard at http://cdbaby.com/cd/spookhandy4

Like his first volume of Mission Street Project, Songs From The Kitchen Table, in this second volume (subtitled Make Levees), Erik Balkey writes about various day to day issues of ordinary Americans, particularly those affected by the Iraq War. And like that CD, there are too many good songs to mention all, but below are my favorites, all penned or co-penned by Balkey:

1) My America- This is Balkey's breakthrough "hit." While folk radio listeners do not compare to mainstream radio in numbers, this song has been getting quite a bit of airplay and deservedly so. Its catchy melody is surpassed only by the indelible images Balkey carves within the song. I can visualize the rust belt roads he travels through in My America, thanks to precise words and phrases and of course the outstanding voice of Anne Hills.

2) Tonight He's Gonna Die- A quiet, reflective, but immensely powerful song about the rah rah atmosphere leading up to the execution of Saddam Hussein one recent Chrismas season. This song says what I have been feeling and I suspect many others have been as well. But in the recent political climate it has been taboo to think and reflect on many of the horrendous actions that our nation's leaders have undertaken or encouraged. This song does so without any preachiness, it simply asks the right questions. The singer, Chris Rosser does a fine job and stays true to Balkey's own gentle vocal delivery of the song.

3) When The War Is Won- This is not a quiet song. It has an almost anthemic quality. Like many of the songs on this CD it also has a killer hook for a chorus. Great singing by Laurie MacAllister and Amy Speace who have particularly appealing voices. However, this song could be sung by an entire choir of voices as it has an almost spritual quality. It's really growing on me and I think its one of Balkey's best songs.

4) Atticus Taught Me- One of the songs that is not directly about the Iraq War but still quite relevent is sung in the person of Scout Finch, from the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Yet it does reference current international events with the lines "You don't say 'Boo' unless you're scared/nobody fights unless they oughtta/but who shoots first? the armed and the righteous/they didn't fight us but they were gonna" Like many Balkey songs it is a soft yet strong statement of conviction voiced by a character not even remotely like the songwriter. Nice vocal by sweet voiced Cary Cooper.

5) How To Talk To A Republican- This song is particularly intriguing to me in how it balances tone. It appears to be a funny song poking fun at Republicans from the title but is actually a serious soul searching song about what makes us all Americans. As on all the cuts the singing is outstanding, in this case Tom Kimmel does the honor.

I suspect that as Balkey's stature grows it will continue to be an honor to perform his songs on this and other projects. His own vocals are not chopped liver however, and he does a really interesting bonus track singing Springsteen's Born In The USA, that all fans of the Boss should check out. And do not forget to check out the other bonus track, one of Balkey's most memorable songs, Cut 'em Down. In conclusion, each CD Balkey releases gets stronger and stronger, but it sure can't hurt to have such wonderful singers as the ones mentioned above, along with David Roth, Pat Wictor, Eric Hanson, Beth Wood, Victoria Vox, Andy Fox and Denise O'Brien, Anne Feeney, Dave Potts, Michelle Dalziel, Bonnie Lee Panda and John M. Tom Prasado-Rao's production is flawless and he also adds a great vocal performance in Trail of Tears. The other producers, in particular Chris Rosser who produced my two favorite tracks, are excellent as well. To sum it up, this CD is a must for anyone who likes socially conscious songs. But it's not the only outstanding folk CD to tackle serious issues that came out in 2008