Americana music is not the first thing I think of when I think of New York City, yet two of the better Americana bands around hail from the Big Apple. Yarn is a band that blew me away with their debut CD Yarn last year. I had a review for that CD on these cyber pages, and the disc ended up on my favorites of 2007 list. The band will likely end up on this year’s list as well with their latest, Empty Pockets. This band is flat out great! The songs are well crafted and often catchy and their playing is outstanding. Recent news about the band includes a nomination for “Artist of the Year†by the Roots Music Association Awards in the Roots/Americana category (along with Emmylou, The Derailers and Reckless Kelly among others). You may have also read on our pages about the bands early Grammy nominations. The title track “Empty Pockets†is one of the catchy numbers and includes some great mandolin by Andrew Hendryx. Once again on this CD the music was written by Blake Christiana, who also provides lead vocals. Fortunately he is surrounded by a band that does the tunes justice! “Music’s Only Outlaw†is a beautiful slower tune that will leave you tapping your toe for sure. Edie Brickell pays a visit and adds some beautiful harmony vocals on “I’m Down,†another highlight on a disc full of them. 15 tunes stuff this disc with great music. It’s a no-brainer, just get it!
The other NYC gem is one of the AmericanaRoots “house bands,” The Doc Marshalls, and their CD is Honest For Once. Whereas Yarn rely a bit more on acoustic music, The Doc Marshalls tend to plug it in. Right out of the gate the band grabs you with their upbeat pure Americana gem “Ticket Out Of Texas.†This disc is really diverse in styles also; you get classic pedal steel soaked lively country on “Lonely At The Top.†Deeper into the disc comes a bit of surprise, a big bite of the Big Easy coming out of the Big Apple, the cajun/zydeco beat and accordion of “Deux Bouteilles†and “Port Barre Stomp.†Apparently being a top notch Americana band located in NYC does have its drawbacks; it must be hard to find proper Americana ladies as the band laments in the disc’s closer “Never Found My Emmylou.†Both of these CDs would be great stocking stuffers for the Americana fan who’s has been a good boy or girl this year!!
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