10390 - THE HOWLIN' BROTHERS - TROUBLE (2014)
THE HOWLIN' BROTHERS
''TROUBLE''
MAY 17 2014
34:43
**********
1 Pour It Down 02:40
2 Boogie 02:13
3 Night And Day 02:18
4 Monroe 03:11
5 World Spinning Round 02:55
6 Troubled Waltz 03:41
7 Sing A Sad Song 02:54
8 Pack Up Joe 02:31
9 Love 02:47
10 Hard Times 02:42
11 I Was Wrong 02:45
12 Louisiana 02:37
13 Yes I Am! 01:23
All Tracks By Ian Craft, Jared Green, Ben Plasse
**********
Bridget Baumgartner/Guest Artist, Vocals
Brendan Benson/Guest Artist, Tambourine, Vocals, Washtub Bass
Etta Britt/Guest Artist, Vocals
Cory Chisel/Guest Artist, Vocals
Ian Craft/Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals
Mike Fried/Guest Artist, Pedal Steel
Jared Green/Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Vocals
Phil Madeira/Accordion, Guest Artist
Ben Plasse/Bass (Upright), Vocals
Ricky Skaggs/Guest Artist, Mandolin
Greg Stocki/Drums, Guest Artist
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Often, progressive bluegrass gets mired in its own ambition, seeming affected whenever it asserts its roots or tackles the present. That's not the case with the Howlin' Brothers. How does this Nashville trio sidestep such pitfalls? It's through sheer kinetic joy, a quality that was evident on their 2013 debut, HOWL, but thrives on its 2014 sequel, Trouble. Once again, Brendan Benson -- a colleague of Jack White who is known for his exceptionally well-crafted power pop records -- produces the band and he favors a crackling live feel, emphasizing the Howlin' Brothers' loose, natural chemistry that, in turn, suggests their versatility. Unlike so many bluegrass groups, chops aren't the priority for the Howlin' Brothers -- they prefer groove and feel, to bounce ideas off each other and their various guest musicians. This doesn't mean they can't solo -- they can and they do often throughout Trouble -- but Benson and the band accentuate interplay, which means this is a visceral record, engaging just as music. Also, this emphasis on instrumentation allows the band to wander away from bluegrass -- "World Spinning Round" is straight-up honky tonk, as is "Troubled Waltz," while "Louisiana" brings the group down to the bayou and the opening "Pour It Down" would be a blues-rocker with other instrumentation -- and it also gives it a tangible, pleasurable quality as a record that demands several listens. Those revisits reveal that in addition to sounding good, Trouble is exceptionally well constructed, with the group crafting roots songs that allow the trio to casually showcase its knowledge and skill. Those songs provide the structure for the album and, presumably, a killer live set, but the nifty thing about Trouble is that it swings and sparks like a concert and it retains that energy on repeated plays.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Steve Leggett
Although they look like a bluegrass band, and at times incorporate bluegrass trappings and rhythms, the Howlin' Brothers (who are not brothers by birth) are most decidedly an Americana string band, but in a reconfigured 21st century version, incorporating rock, pop, gospel, jazz, R&B, Dixieland, country blues, and who knows what else into the mix along with a scattering of old-time Appalachian string band material and approaches. Formed in Ithaca, New York at Ithaca College in 2003, the Howlin' Brothers (Ben Plasse on upright bass and banjo, Ian Craft on fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, and Jared Green on guitar and harmonica; all three share vocals and harmonies) developed a fun, foot-stomping live show and an avid following in the Ithaca area, then decided to relocate to Nashville in 2005 and try their luck. The group self-released Mountain Songs (2007), Long Hard Year (2009), Baker St. Blues (2011), and a compilation of live performances, Old Time All the Time (2012), which they sold at shows, before connecting with Brendan Benson through a mutual friend. Benson took the trio into the studio and produced the band's first national release, Howl, which included guest spots from Jypsi and Warren Haynes and was released by Benson's own Readymade Records in 2013. Trouble, again produced by Benson, followed in 2014.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''TROUBLE''
MAY 17 2014
34:43
**********
1 Pour It Down 02:40
2 Boogie 02:13
3 Night And Day 02:18
4 Monroe 03:11
5 World Spinning Round 02:55
6 Troubled Waltz 03:41
7 Sing A Sad Song 02:54
8 Pack Up Joe 02:31
9 Love 02:47
10 Hard Times 02:42
11 I Was Wrong 02:45
12 Louisiana 02:37
13 Yes I Am! 01:23
All Tracks By Ian Craft, Jared Green, Ben Plasse
**********
Bridget Baumgartner/Guest Artist, Vocals
Brendan Benson/Guest Artist, Tambourine, Vocals, Washtub Bass
Etta Britt/Guest Artist, Vocals
Cory Chisel/Guest Artist, Vocals
Ian Craft/Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals
Mike Fried/Guest Artist, Pedal Steel
Jared Green/Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Vocals
Phil Madeira/Accordion, Guest Artist
Ben Plasse/Bass (Upright), Vocals
Ricky Skaggs/Guest Artist, Mandolin
Greg Stocki/Drums, Guest Artist
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Often, progressive bluegrass gets mired in its own ambition, seeming affected whenever it asserts its roots or tackles the present. That's not the case with the Howlin' Brothers. How does this Nashville trio sidestep such pitfalls? It's through sheer kinetic joy, a quality that was evident on their 2013 debut, HOWL, but thrives on its 2014 sequel, Trouble. Once again, Brendan Benson -- a colleague of Jack White who is known for his exceptionally well-crafted power pop records -- produces the band and he favors a crackling live feel, emphasizing the Howlin' Brothers' loose, natural chemistry that, in turn, suggests their versatility. Unlike so many bluegrass groups, chops aren't the priority for the Howlin' Brothers -- they prefer groove and feel, to bounce ideas off each other and their various guest musicians. This doesn't mean they can't solo -- they can and they do often throughout Trouble -- but Benson and the band accentuate interplay, which means this is a visceral record, engaging just as music. Also, this emphasis on instrumentation allows the band to wander away from bluegrass -- "World Spinning Round" is straight-up honky tonk, as is "Troubled Waltz," while "Louisiana" brings the group down to the bayou and the opening "Pour It Down" would be a blues-rocker with other instrumentation -- and it also gives it a tangible, pleasurable quality as a record that demands several listens. Those revisits reveal that in addition to sounding good, Trouble is exceptionally well constructed, with the group crafting roots songs that allow the trio to casually showcase its knowledge and skill. Those songs provide the structure for the album and, presumably, a killer live set, but the nifty thing about Trouble is that it swings and sparks like a concert and it retains that energy on repeated plays.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Steve Leggett
Although they look like a bluegrass band, and at times incorporate bluegrass trappings and rhythms, the Howlin' Brothers (who are not brothers by birth) are most decidedly an Americana string band, but in a reconfigured 21st century version, incorporating rock, pop, gospel, jazz, R&B, Dixieland, country blues, and who knows what else into the mix along with a scattering of old-time Appalachian string band material and approaches. Formed in Ithaca, New York at Ithaca College in 2003, the Howlin' Brothers (Ben Plasse on upright bass and banjo, Ian Craft on fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, and Jared Green on guitar and harmonica; all three share vocals and harmonies) developed a fun, foot-stomping live show and an avid following in the Ithaca area, then decided to relocate to Nashville in 2005 and try their luck. The group self-released Mountain Songs (2007), Long Hard Year (2009), Baker St. Blues (2011), and a compilation of live performances, Old Time All the Time (2012), which they sold at shows, before connecting with Brendan Benson through a mutual friend. Benson took the trio into the studio and produced the band's first national release, Howl, which included guest spots from Jypsi and Warren Haynes and was released by Benson's own Readymade Records in 2013. Trouble, again produced by Benson, followed in 2014.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********