Lackawanna Rail

Lackawanna Rail is now Number 5 in our Top Ten Downloads! - Tarius Music

Picture: Singer-Songwriter Spook Handy, right, works with Michael Meade of East Brunswick, a member of the group Lackawanna Rail during a workshop Saturday on "Effective Stage Presence" sponsered by the Highland Park Musicians' Cooperative at the Reformed Church of Highland Park. - Star-Ledger

Lackawanna Rail,
I Think You Should Know
(RockGrass, 2006)

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With a hodgepodge of referential musical styles, stretching from the early 1960s all the way through the '70s, Lackawanna Rail's debut album I Think You Should Know covers a lot of nostalgic ground. And don't let "nostalgic" have a negative connotation. All too often, the use of nostalgia implies an absence of originality. While a valid critique for some, it certainly doesn't apply in Lackawanna Rail's case. The band utilizes a twofold strategy for nostalgia. One is nostalgia for youth and the other is a musical nostalgia. In this case, the era of the band's youth more than likely occurred in that particular musical era; however, the dual nostalgic themes can be appreciated by all ages.

"I Still Remember" is a stroll down memory lane in more ways than one. While the lyrics refer to the singer's youth, the musical style enforces the theme by harkening to early '60s doo-wop. (Or in this instance, it's more "shoo-doop, shooby-doo-waaa.") Check out the style of "What is Truth" (especially the background/supporting vocals); you'll half expect Ed Sullivan or Dick Clark to come out after the song is over.

There are other songs that allude to that early '60s era, even in the naming of the songs. Remember all the songs about a particular girl: Peggy Sue, Barbara Ann, Chantilly Lace, Mary Lou, etc.? There are two songs on this album that follow suit, but stand out individually as delightful songs. "Judy's Song" primarily relies on the vocals, employing an especially nice harmonization in the chorus. "Valerie," on the other hand, takes a faster rock pace and has a stronger emphasis on instruments, especially the drums and electric guitar.

"Quiet Rock," "That's Alright" and "I Don't Want to be Right" take on the slow and easy '70s rock style, kind of Allman Brothers mixed with a mellow version of George Thorogood. These songs are rather good, but the early '60s songs are the strongest of the musical nostalgia bunch.

The songs that tackle the nostalgic views of youth take a variable point of view. It can be a current look back at youth while being in an older/elderly role, a look back at that experience as a youth or a current look for the present-day young'uns. For instance, "That Look in Your Eyes" is a heartfelt, sentimental song that will be adored by every little girl's daddy, and probably every daddy's little girl. It doesn't take the saccharine route; instead it offers an honest look at the father-daughter dynamic and the persistence of love despite life's many obstacles. "Loving Me" is similar, except it explores the mother-son relationship.

The benefit of nostalgia is also hindsight. Yet in looking back at musical performers, there seems to be a lot of focus in how they finish/end up, rather than how they started. Sure, everyone knows the importance of a strong finish, but starts are given much more leeway. For some reason, starts are given a hefty allowance and plenty of room for forgiveness. There are slow starts, stuttering starts and even faulty starts. But rarely are strong starts given the praise they deserve. Well, Lackawanna Rail deserves praise for this debut album. I Think You Should Know is indubitably a strong start, and has just the right approach to nostalgia.

- rambles.net

Lackawanna Rail
I Think You Should Know Erhältlich bei: www.cdbaby.com

Michael Meade, Ed Dubell und Karen Dubell wird nachgesagt, dass sie Bluegrass mit Rock'

n'Roll verbinden.

Meines Erachtens ist jedoch ein Vergleich mit den Wilders und ähnlichen Gruppen unangebracht. Der Sound klingt frisch, ungewöhnlich. Die Instrumentierung ist im Bluegrass-Stil (mehr oder weniger) gehalten, trotzdem würde ich diesen Tonträger dem Folk-Bereich zuordnen.

Die Songs drehen sich vorwiegend um das Thema Liebe und den damit verbundenen Verlust, die Hoffnung, die Enttäuschung, die Selbstkasteiung. Auch hier ist der Gesang nicht fehlerfrei. Dank der Mandoline bleibt sie immer sympathisch. Die Songsauswahl ist vielseitig, selbst vor Doo-Wop wird nicht Halt gemacht, die Musiker wirken entspannt. Gut gemacht.

NOTE FROM MICHAEL MEADE: OK, I had to have this translated. I asked a friend to do this and I have to admit I was pleased to find out what it said. Here is the translation:
Lackawanna Rail
I Think You Should Know, available from www.cdbaby.com

It has been said of Michael Meade, Ed Dubell and Karen Dubell that they have combined Bluegrass with Rock 'n' Roll. My take however is a comparison with the Wilders and similar groups. The sound rings fresh, exceptional. The instrumentation is presented in a Bluegrass style (more or less), but I would classify this recording as being from the Folk realm.

The songs base themselves mainly on the theme of love and with it loss, hope, disappointment, self-abasement. Keeping with these themes, the sound is not overly polished. Thanks to The mandolin, it stays ever pleasant. The song variety is wide-ranging, not stopping before covering Doo-Wop, and the different musical styles are woven in an exciting way. Well done.
- RecordNews www.iwde.de