4 Way Street

Pretzel Park

2004-04-06

Boy, talk about guts.
Copping the name of CSN&Y's quintessential disc makes this quartet of singer/songwriters (Ben Arnold, Jim Boggia, Scott Bricklin and Joseph Parsons) an easy tartet for those who think that lofty mountains can't be climbed again. Fortunately for them, they get well into the foothills with well-crafted songs and sublime harmonies.

Unlike The Thorns who perfected the three way harmonies but forgot about writing songs that stick with, this accidental group (they hooked up at an open mic night) digs in a bit deeper lyrically and adds enough grit to the harmonies to keep them from sliding by unnoticed.

Echoes of the Jayhawks, Wilco, Tom Petty and, yese, even CSN&Y creep into the mix. With songs addressing everything from self-efficiency, to a timely anti-war protest to an eastern-inflected trip into Bombay, there is much to like here.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 12/1969

    THE PRETENDERS
    Break Up The Concrete

  • reviewed 02/2004

    Grant-Lee Phillips
    Virginia Creeper

  • reviewed 07/2007

    SUBDUDES
    Street Symphony

  • reviewed 06/2009

    EELS
    Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs Of Desire

  • reviewed 10/2010

    J.P., CHRISSIE & THE FAIRGROUND BOYS
    FIDELITY!

  • reviewed 04/2014

    CLOUD CULT
    Unplug

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.