Before I begin my review, I would like to talk about the legendary Merle Haggard who died last week. While I admit that I was more prone to listening to other country greats, like Ernest Tubb and George Jones before Merle. This was because country legends like Jones and Haggard had their own set personas that fit a mood I would come to have over time. Merle’s music was a mixed bag. He would speak from both sides of the spectrum. His personality was a perfect representation of Bakersfield at the time: a simpler sort of city that was and is surrounded by the uncontrollable progress coming from the north and south. Haggard also personified the “outlaw country” movement as well as the Bakersfield movement. His variety and his consistency in the industry for fifty years is what have made Merle Haggard one of the legends of the country music world.
There were two albums I was debating about reviewing for this, and after hearing of Merle Haggard’s death I knew the answer. Previously, I was leaning to Josh William’s new album, but that review will be on the next Ol’ Dusty Trail at 12PM Western time on Clark Radio (http://www.clarkuradio.com/) next Thursday. Instead, I think a band the perfectly represents what Merle Haggard’s music represented, both literally and symbolically is Town Mountain.
Their new album ‘Southern Crescent’ shows the eclecticism that has made this band one of the best live shows in bluegrass. Their last album, ‘Leave the Bottle’ had some of the most hard driving songs one would ever want to hear and that lead to even more acclaim to one of the most hard working bands. This album has them keeping to their roots, which consist of traditional bluegrass as well as Americana and Country. For those familiar with the bad, you know that it stops and starts with the twangy soulful voice of Robert Greer. He sings all but one song, which include Flatt and Scruggs type pep and lonesome honky tonk. This album, like most of his music is all about the masterful fills of one of the underrated instrumental groups behind a voice; with a Paisley’s soul and Tyminski’s boom.
This album decides to go back to the Monroe roots with the fiddle intro, “St. Augustine”. This one minute intro shows off the bright powerful tone of Bobby Britt who I have always enjoyed. After this we get into the high energy chunky bluegrass that Town Mountain has made its bread and butter. “Ain’t Gonna Worry” continues the album in high energy fashion, but the real fun comes with their single “Comin back to you” while this song consists of drums and piano, Town Mountain makes it work because it’s Town Mountain. While most bluegrass bands want to force energy into their songs with percussion, Town Mountain’s songs have too much energy to be contained with their instrumentation. This is what brings them an edgy feel in a three or four chord progression, which is a trait that no other band has.
Next we get the title track, with which I was personally disappointed. It’s one of those crooked ‘hanging five’ songs that drags instead of pushes. The mix also has the tenor too high, and while Greer is a great lead singer he shouldn’t have his tenors highlighted. After this track comes my personal favorite part of any Town Mountain set: Greer getting gritty and into his country roots. The best song on this album is, “A House with No Windows,” which features Greer singing about what he wants to sing about most: hookers and booze. His singing becomes borderline country crooning and he is able to put so much soul into any syllable that one can’t help but feel the brashness of the lyrics and the sincerity of his voice. With lines like, “This dollar in my picket is going to burn away the blues. Gonna burn the between us as long as you let it do.” and “When the night is over and all the love has gone cold, the house that I called a home is sure to close”. This song brings of the all the emotion you want out of a classic country song. The other song that fits this is the accurately named “Whiskey and Tears”. Need I say more?
Along with bobby Britt, Jesse Langlais’ banjo has varied and tasteful fills throughout the album as deserves a shout out. All and all, each person knows their role in the band and plays it perfectly. Town Mountain is a staple in the live festival circuit and this album can only improve that status.
