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Elko Railroad Earth Folk / Bluegrass / Americana / Jamgrass |
Live albums just suit some artists. Anyone who’s compared Peter Frampton’s studio recordings to Frampton Comes Alive knows this well. Some artists go to great lengths to preserve the live vibe; Joe Jackson recorded his Big World album in a New York club and asked the audience not to applaud! Railroad Earth is a band whose music is flattered by the stage: their flashy playing and jamming mentality is a firecracker that ignites in front of a crowd.
No wonder their new 2-disc live CD, Elko, was released on the heels of only two studio efforts (three if you count a batch of demos). The generous format — more than 2 hours — gives them plenty of room to meander through twelve tracks and establish the groove required by their “Jamgrass” style; each track clocks in at over 6 minutes — half are more than ten minutes.
Elko smartly focuses on prime cuts from their first two releases: fan favorites, including “Colorado”, “Bird in a House”, the signature “Long Way to Go” and their wistful namesake “Railroad Earth” are represented, making “Elko” a functional, if accidental, greatest “hits” package. Three new songs are also included. Oddly, only one selection comes from their most recent album, The Good Life, which they were touring to promote!
If you’re new to Railroad Earth and are looking for a Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, or even Bela Fleck clone, you may be disappointed. Railroad Earth are six gifted musicians from Jersey, capable of assimilating many Folk styles: their extended jams evoke the memory of Jerry Garcia and Old & in the Way; whimsical lyrics recall John Denver or America; the pennywhistle and electric violin is a pleasant reference to Fairport Convention; and flute mingled with guitars mirrors the Marshall Tucker Band.
Railroad Earth stays close enough to its roots to be labeled Bluegrass (they don’t share Bela Fleck’s tendencies toward cosmic Jazz), but Bluegrass isn’t an adequate description for such an eclectic mix. If you must call it something, call it Jamgrass. But if you look for their albums in the stores, be prepared to scan the Rock/Pop, Folk and Bluegrass bins. If they even carry the band’s CD’s, Borders, Barnes & Noble and Tower stock them in all of the above. I recently discovered it in Borders…in Rock/Pop…filed next to AC/DC! [sigh]
Conclusion
Elko boasts exceptional playing, clean sound (not much intrusive crowd noise), and is a nice summary of RE’s brief career. It captures the band in its element. Their lyrics are a tad soft, and Todd Sheaffer’s voice wouldn’t survive the middle rounds of American Idol, but the band’s virtuosity diverts one’s attention from these flaws. You should have at least one of their discs in your collection. Start your journey through the Railroad Earth here.
Recommended – 3/5 stars
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