| To start I would like to say that I am pleasantly surprised by the recent attention given to the "O Brother..." soundtrack, and better yet the renewed interest in Old-Timey music in general. So I guess I must also state that even though some might be quick to write The Boggs off as nothing more than reactionary, it would be wrong to do so. The Boggs are not even something as simple as revivalist. These are all original songs that take on early American folk recordings as an inspiration to distill and develop into this -- a rarely seen progression -- that, yes, draws upon the likes of Frank Hutchison, Bascom Lamar Lundsford, Roscoe Holcomb, Skip James, and Doc Boggs. Laced with the lonesome taste of melancholy, the lyrics tend to focus on matters of love and death allowing the music to breathe from track to track. Varying sounds and styles create the feel of a great compilation (which offers evidence that The Boggs' biggest inspiration could actually be the Harry Smith "Anthology of American Folk Music" box set). The raw and intense 'Brooklyn Browngrass' sound is led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jason Friedman assisted on most songs with slide guitarist Ezekiel Healy, drummer Brad Conroy, and banjo player Phil Roebuck. I have been a fan ever since the first time I heard them on an L-train platform and now that you have been given the opportunity, I am sure you too will become a loyal supporter of The Boggs. [AG] |