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 09/2005

    James McMurtry
    Childish Things

  • reviewed 09/2017

    Clumsy Fingers
    Only A Fool Would Try

  • reviewed 10/2003

    Natalie Merchant
    The House Carpenter's DaughterThe House Carpenter's Daughter

  • reviewed 08/2011

    SLAID CLEAVES
    SORROW & SMOKE LIVE AT THE HORSESHOE LOUNGE

  • reviewed 10/2015

    Joel Rafael
    Americana Music Festival Sampler

  • reviewed 05/2010

    AJ Downing and The Buick 6
    Way Back Home

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.