In all fairness, I am not a trained musician. But, I do love local music. And having listened to a host of local acts, it becomes pretty clear quickly what is a knockoff and what is truly inspiring (and worth celebrating).
This ability to turn my head as well as that of others in our city is a feat often rendered by our very own The Crane Wives, who not only have been kicking up some dust from here to Austin, Texas where they played a Michigan showcase for the SXSW crowds, but on their new release, The Fool in Her Wedding Gown, they are about to put the whole lot of us in a head traction device for whiplash. It is that good and worth the wait.
It might be easy to evoke the joys of modern acts like The Fleet Foxes, or Mumford and Sons' tight harmonies. As a child of the '70s, this new album is straight up down-home Fleetwood Mac-esque, with a series of gems proudly on display over this 12-track release.
The driving and bouncy rhythmic beat of the opening track, "Icarus," evokes the easy memory of riding a train, with the rhythmic click of the rails pulsating below.
The only time the beat stops is to remind to poignantly remind us that they haven’t got time for that before going full-steam ahead.
By the time you get to the end of this release, you will have been treated to a journey including tracks like "Steady, Steady," where we are engulfed in the world of The Crane Wives with signature slow ballad harmonies eagerly traded back and forth as the band charges to a climatic finale.
On "The Glacier House," they evoke an airy Stevie Nicks atmosphere, as you want to twirl about before the poetic segue of wind chimes lead us effortlessly to another rousing number on "Tongues and Teeth."
This device of closing the gaps between tracks surfaces memories of the concept album where experimentation and theme freely flow -- usually not something a band would be willing to try on a sophomore effort.
But The Crane Wives on The Fool… are not foolish or reckless with this new material, but prove once again to be a band that first and foremost (and all gimmicks aside) just loves to create and make really good music for your car or your town’s stage.
Don’t miss this joyous release party at the Intersection Lounge. You can bank on it being a great night out on the town and a bit of a homecoming as so many fans will flock under roof to celebrate The Fool in Her Wedding Dress.
Opening for the band is The Fauxgrass Quartet and Lucas Wilson and Band.
Admission: $6 in advance, $8 at the door (All Ages Show)
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