A Review of the CD
"Storied Ground"
by John McCutcheon

"Storied Ground"
by John McCutcheon

Appalseed Records
1025 Locust Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22901
ph:(804)977-6321
fax:(804)977-9708
http://www.folkmusic.com

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 12/99
"Kevin and Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.icogitate.com/~celticfolkmusic/index.html
mailto:celticfolkmusic@icogitate.com

John McCutcheon is a man of many talents. Foremost is his ability to write songs celebrating the nobility of the working class without drifting into the quagmire of unctuousness. His latest release is replete with social commentaries blanketing a multitude of subjects, with the little guy sometimes winning but also sometimes falling prey to economic, social, racial, and class injustices. And check it out, he even lines up shoulder-to-shoulder with Nancy Reagan on one cut! John, I guess we hardly knew ye!

Brimming with percussion, bass and mandolin, "Jericho," is the opener, describing the actions people have bravely taken both individually and collectively over the years to change their lot and, ultimately, society for the better. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to see the larger context and perspective, a la Rosa Parks' refusal to head to the back of the bus for a seat. Tired feet, intentionally or unintentionally, produced an act of revolution, and as McCutcheon puts it:

"Vultures" is a rant against the media's voyeuristic invasion of almost anyone's life for ratings and filthy lucre. McCutcheon sings:

...Marv Albert in the motel
The face of Jesus on Mars
Another story 'bout the Kennedys
Liz Taylor's scars
Elvis at the Dairy Queen
Jerry Springer anywhere
Sonny Bono on the ski hill..."

He advises:

The intriguing friendship that developed between major league baseball players Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese is depicted in the touching "Cross That Line," a tale about the incredible on-field abuse Robinson received in 1947 as the first "colored" player to break that baseball barrier. Despite being raised amid the racial bigotry and segregation of Kentucky, Reese had seen enough one day in Cincinnati and yielded to common decency when he called time during a game, walked over to Robinson and put his arm around him. This stunned the crowd to silence. The chorus goes:

"From Us" could easily be a companion piece to Cheryl Wheeler's anti-gun ode "If It Were Up To Me." McCutcheon blames economics and weak-willed politicians for the stranglehold of a few on government weapon and armament policies in this country. He sings:

...In a school in Pennsylvania
In a school in Arkansas
In a school in Kentucky
In cities large and small
In a school in California
In a school in Oregon
Where do they get the violence?
Where do they get the guns?..."

His answer is: "They get 'em from us." He continues on:

The piano-backed "Closing The Bookstore Down" depicts the recent battleground in many communities as cookie cutter-like corporate chain stores devour local businesses and forever change both the sense of community and the local flavor that defines it. McCutcheon offers:

Some big concern comes in and yanks
Our jobs, our shops, our hometown banks
Then they expect our grateful thanks
It happens everyday
I guess I just prefer to see
Success serve our community
Not just some wealthy VIP
Who lives a thousand miles away...

So take a minute and look around
There are corner shops in every town
Squeezed and pushed and hunkered down
And battered by the blows
No, they might not be shiny or bright or new
But they're run by folks like me and you
Now I can't tell you what to do
But me?...I'm gonna shop at those..."

"Piece By Piece" is McCutcheon's homily on the meaning and importance of the AIDS Names Quilt. Infused by soothing touches of cello, it closes with:

It's a common thread that binds us
And our work will never cease
Till we stitch this world together piece by piece"

McCutcheon is a prolific songwriter but he retains a crisp freshness with his material and there is nary a weak cut throughout the twelve songs presented here. He will move you with his stories of the commonplace that contain much more insight and meaning than the flash and neon of the Top Ten This and the Best Selling That.

In McCutcheon's world, it is personal values and actions, not inherited endowments, stock options or financial bottom lines that define worthiness. Amen.

McCutcheon, on vocals, 6 and 12-string guitar, banjo and didgeridoo, is backed by J.T. Brown on bass and harmony vocals; T.J. Johnson on mandolin; Art Wheeler on piano and organ; Robert "Jos" Jospe on drums and percussion; Pete Kennedy on electric guitar; Michael Aharon on cello; Mike Crotty on saxophone; Bruce Molsky on fiddle; Mike Munford on banjo; and Moondi Klein on harmony vocals.

Track List:

Jericho (4:38)
Vultures (4:00)
Cross That Line (4:57)
Key to the City (4:03)
Homecoming Time (4:39)
Two Foot Seam (2:49)
From Us (3:03)
Closing the Bookstore (4:04)
Crazy or Courageous (4:05)
One More Mountaintop (4:22)
The Abbey D (3:36)
Piece by Piece (3:52)

All songs written by John McCutcheon, except "Key to the City," co-written with Paul Reisler.

Ownership, copyright and title of this folk music CD review belongs to me, Kevin McCarthy. Ownership, copyright and title are not transferable or assignable to you or other parties regardless of how or if you or other parties use, copy, save, backup, store, retrieve, transmit, display, publish, modify or share the CD review in whole or in part. Please read the "Terms, Conditions and Disclaimer" section on my web site for additional information about using, quoting, or reprinting this CD review.

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A Review of the CD "Storied Ground" by John McCutcheon

"Storied Ground" by John McCutcheon

Track List:

A Review of the CD
"Storied Ground"
by John McCutcheon

"Storied Ground"
by John McCutcheon