The Waybacks: Loaded, Album Review

This first appeared on Jambase.com

Since 2006 the Waybacks could not go without a mention of their stellar performance at Merlefest with legend Bob Weir. Moving past that, their new album album Loaded (Compass) , contains a creative mix of Celtic, bluegrass, folk and roots. The Velvet Underground record by the same name, was created by Lou Reed in response to his record Label's demands for an album “loaded” with hits. There is something similar going on with this record, given the variety and polished, shiny appeal of each track. Loaded expands beyond the realm of bluegrass mixing in heavy doses of genre mishmash.

“Black Cat” is quite possibly my favorite track on the album, the song appeals to my Eastern European blood, heating it up like a shot of vodka. A violin solo that rises and falls, inching faster toward a climax, conjures images of Gypsy musicians captured in black and white photos. Distinct Gypsy style guitar with hints of jazz, round this song out as one of the most unique tracks on the album and gets my Russian grandmas seal of approval.

Adding to the eclectic stew of genre mishmash, is a a lounge-jazz inspired tune called “Savannah,” reminiscent of a 60's jazz vocalist backed by a walking bass. “Nice to be Alone” is a classic pop song without any hints that the band playing might have been a called a bluegrass band. “Beyond the Northwest Passage” is a sea shanty Celtic tune, which critiques environmental degradation in a salty, sea-faring history lesson.

Read the rest at Jambase.com

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Black Cat: the Waybacks

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