JOY KILLS SORROW

Darkness Sure Becomes This City

2010-02-25

This Boston-based band takes a bluegrass foundation and adds innovation in both songwriting and musicianship. At times, the cuts seem "old-timey," like the Gary, Indiana* radio station WJKS, from when comes the band's name (cf. "New Shoes" and "We Will Have Our Day"). In other moments, the break from the expected brings added interest and depth (cf. title track, "All the Buildings"). The group is kind of an "acoustic all-star" configuration: the mandolin player is the first-ever graduate from the prestigious Berklee School of Music on that instrument; the guitarist has a "flatpicking championship" under his belt; the primary lyricist is a John Lennon Songwriting Award winner; and the main vocalist won a national Canadian folk music performing honor. Nice that they all found one another. Give this disc a spin. Michael J. 02/10 F-Americana [*How a Gary, Indiana station got away with playing bluegrass might be interesting research sometime.]

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 06/2005

    Great Lakes Myth Society
    Great Lakes Myth Society

  • reviewed 01/2007

    CLAUDIA SCHIMIDT
    Live at the Dakota

  • reviewed 08/2007

    JOAN OSBORNE
    Breakfast in Bed

  • reviewed 06/2007

    ROCKY VOTOLATO
    The Brag & Cuss

  • reviewed 09/2007

    DONAVON FRANKENREITER
    Recycled Recipes

  • reviewed 02/2014

    ROOSEVELT DIME
    FULL HEAD OF STEAM

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.