This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 1/05
mailto:celticfolkmusic@icogitate.com
"Kevin and Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.icogitate.com/~celticfolkmusic/index.html
1 + 1 + 1 = infinite possibilities. No, this isn't some sort of
new or fuzzy math, it's Redbird, the artistic collaboration of
Jeffrey Foucault, Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey, with backing by
David Goodrich.
Spending three summer days in a living room could have produced many outcomes but
in this case, it birthed this release. The married pair of Foucault
and Delmhorst are rising folk stars and musical purveyors of weary
angst. (Wanna bet their next releases contain at least a few cheery,
chirpy love songs?) Mulvey is a relative folk veteran known for his
exquisite guitar work and edgy songwriting.
One of the treats of this release is that it allows fans a
peek (well, in this case a listen, too) at selections not normally
associated with these performers. Germinated during a tour of England by the
trio, this release contains the songs musicians might play for each other
after the curtain falls and lights go out on a show. There is a wide
variety of songwriters are featured (Greg Brown, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson,
REM, Tom Waits and others), including each artist singing
tunes written by one another.
The highlights:
Greg Brown's "Ships," begins the offerings,featuring the personas of Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and Elvis Presley.
This reviewer obviously needs to get out more because the riveting Mitchell Jayne/Joe Stuart-written "The Whole World Round" was brand new to these ears, as was the traditional cut "Moonshiner," a stark depiction of a still owner's life.Delmhorst is achingly lovely on Mulvey's contemplative
"Ithaca." Mulvey returns the musical favor with Delmhorst's "Lullaby
101."
Delmhorst inhabits
the late Mark Sandman's "Patience," and leads the vocals on Ry
Cavanaugh's "Lighthouse Light," a song about patience and faith, among
other subjects.
Foucault, with the bleak "Drunk Lullaby" offers the next to
last cut, followed by Tom Waits' companion piece, the bittersweet "Hold
On," with all three performers trading vocals.
In keeping with the spirit of the production, the liner notes are fairly minimal but it would have been nice to learn why each song was chosen here.
Unlike the St. Louis Cardinals, who failed to make it into the World Series, this Redbird is a winner and more than enough consolation. Check out this music for musicians release.Jeffrey Foucault, on vocals, guitar and papoose, Kris Delmhorst
on vocals, guitar, fiddle and papoose and Peter Mulvey
on vocals, guitar, papoose and lap slide guitar are joined by David
Goodrich on vocals, guitar, mandolin, slide guitar and papoose.
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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