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Acoustic Syndicate- Crazy Little Life (Little King Records- AS003) 42:17 |
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The most glorious advantage of being involved in bluegrass during the early years of this young century is the opportunity to bask in the incredible diversity of musicianship currently available under the ever-expanding banner of ‘bluegrass.’ Attracting the type of fierce fan loyalty usually reserved for Phish and the Grateful Dead, Acoustic Syndicate bring a live spontaneity to their third release. By now, one shouldn’t need to mention that Acoustic Syndicate is not an old-time, traditional sounding bluegrass band. However, they are respectful of the genre and include the innovative spirit of the music in their striking conglomeration of rootsy, Americana sounds. The McMurrys, brothers Fitz and Byron along with cousin Steve, hail from Cleveland County, North Carolina and bring with them the usual variety of influences-bluegrass, jazz, country, reggae- all of which can be heard in their music. Along with bassist Jay Sanders, Acoustic Syndicate is not content to simply stretch the boundaries of acoustic music; they throw their influences into the proverbial blender, add a dash of rock n’ roll attitude, and come up with an amazingly satisfying aural concoction. The album opens with “Sunlight Falls,” a love song that is poetic in its imagery (Sunshine falls on the place where you live, it feels like home…some place familiar”) and serves as a worthy showcase for Steve McMurry’s Dave Matthews-like vocals. Acoustic Syndicate’s rhythm section of Fitz McMurry (drums) and Jay Sanders (bass) is central to their powerhouse sound. “Billy the Kid” is a radio friendly track that has Byron McMurry’s banjo quietly maintaining the melody. A lengthy instrumental jam, “Dancing to the Requiem”, approaches jazz improvisation without becoming self-serving. Label it if you must- alt.grass, acoustiblue, newgrass, rockgrass. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Crazy Little Life is a worthy investment for those venturing from the well traveled middle-of-the-road and who yearn to veer closer to the ditch! www.acousticsyndicate.com (DT) |
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