Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Drag the River

It's Crazy. (2006)
Suburban Home Records

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: Scruffy
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 23rd 2006

When I first heard about Drag the River, I thought it would be another interesting novelty, a side project / supergroup of country-tinged punk. I thought it would sound similar to bands like Limbeck or Legends of Rodeo, both bands that went country after playing emo/punk. Boy, was I wrong.

It’s Crazy. opens with a cover song (“Leavin’ in the Morning”) that is incredibly catchy. From there on, the first handful of songs ride the fence between subdued and energetic. But when “Beautiful and Damned” comes on, you know there’s something special about this album. “Beautiful and Damned” is a hauntingly slow number, with shades of Springsteen, that holds one of the most amazing moments on the album: Chad hitting the line “I believe in time. Time can heal your wounds, if you can’t. You’re beautiful and damned.”

Honestly, the weakest part of this album are Jon’s songs. His accent can, at times, sound fake or forced, though “Cousins” and “Me and Joe Drove Out to California” are both high points, and ”It’s Crazy” is a great way to end the album.

Chad’s songs tend to be the less straightforward ones, but it’s something him and the band are very good at. “Amazing G.” and “Dirty Lips” are great, the latter bordering on Old ‘97s-style pop. However, the weakest point on the album is one of Chad’s -- “Mr. Crews.” It sounds like any number of songs I’ve heard at open mic nights.

The most impressive part of this album is Casey Prestwood’s lead guitar. Not only is he fantastically talented at steel and lead guitars, but the parts are written so well that you almost forget they’re there. Almost. They blend into the song, complementing and bettering them, only taking center stage when absolutely necessary. Casey apparently is available now as a studio musician for just such work, and, after hearing this album, I would imagine he’s incredibly busy.

When I first got this album, I thought it was merely okay. I was worried it would just fall back into my collection, another CD I quit listening to. But it kept ending up back in my stereo. These songs are infectious. It works as background music, but it’s also an album that makes you want to get four of your friends, drive somewhere with the windows down and sing along. But, most importantly, it’s an album that you can sit down and analyze. This may be a sleeper of an album, but it’s a great one. If you like country, folk and classic rock, pick this up. It’s subtle and nuanced, but it’s also energetic and fun. It’s Crazy. is not only one of the most aptly titled CDs this year, but it may end up one of the best.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

psykosteve (November 2, 2007)

This is a video I filmed last week of Chad playing Leavin' In The Morning solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPmUpx6hZ9Q

Scruffy (August 5, 2006)

You've obviously never written a country song if you don't know the intense pressure that kind of songwriting puts on you to adopt a twang.

Anonymous (July 5, 2006)

fake accent?
if your gonna fake something ya fake something that HELPS sell records.

Anonymous (June 24, 2006)

"Mr. Crews" is one of the best tracks on this album!

rkl (June 24, 2006)

not only is this album good, they slay live. apparently theyre local to denver, as they play here about every 3 weeks.

Scruffy (June 24, 2006)

Well, Whiskeytown is better, but, c'mon. It's Whiskeytown. They're freaking amazing.

Anonymous (June 24, 2006)

Nothing special. Whiskeytown is better.

A lot of people wouldn't even try this band out if it weren't for its members. A lot of people give it praise because of this.

I give it a 6.5.

Anonymous (June 24, 2006)

"The live record is the only DTR album anyone really needs to own."

which one? well, their all pretty good.

in Scruffy news, Futurama is going to be back. Comedy Central ordered 13 episodes.

wyzo

Anonymous (June 23, 2006)

saw them a few weeks back at The Red Stone Room in Iowa and for a band that I had never herd of before they caught my atention right away. Just Beatiful music

Hulka (June 23, 2006)

The live record is the only DTR album anyone really needs to own.

Scruffy (June 23, 2006)

Yeah, they do both have amazing lyrics. Honestly, when I say his songs are some of the weakest, it's like talking about which part of a brownie sundae you like the least.
And, yeah, this the first I've ever heard Drag The River. It's the first I'd ever seen a CD of theirs available, and I totally dig it.
I didn't mention the bands the members came from because it has almost no bearing on DTR's sound. Most "ex-members of" bands it's worth mentioning to draw fans in, but, honestly, it'd be wrong to recommend this band to someone simply on the basis that they like All, etc... This band is 100% its own thing, and they're great.

Anonymous (June 23, 2006)

this is on my to get list along with Dead To Me's new one, although I still haven't heard this yet.

- APK

Jesse (June 23, 2006)

Meh, it's all right.

Pretty Boy Thorson and the Falling Angels slays this genre, though. I'd rather listen to them.

New topic:

What's the deal with everyone trying to go country these days? Like seven different lady singers from bands have tried to put out country solo efforts.

Damn, everyone needs to chill out, throw on some Faron Young or Hank WIlliams, and groove to some REAL country. Cash and Haggard are also acceptable, as is Hank Snow, if you're really desperate.

allbutone (June 23, 2006)

Snodgrass has some of the best songs on here. This is coming from someone who usually prefers chad's songs.

Also, its awesome that they put the whole cd again on the last track so that if you by chance see the cd in a jukebox, you can play the whole cd for one play. nice.

chipsahoycookie (June 23, 2006)

i've had the double live album for some time and i still don't know if i like these guys. i love most of the bands they came from.

Anonymous (June 23, 2006)

i wonder how much the reviewer had listened to DTR prior to this release. It's a good review if this is one of his first full forays into it, I can't tell.

Me, I'm a sucker for DTR. For the 2nd time, I missed them in Iowa, one more cruel 'had work taken off for just that day for weeks only for a million other things to go wrong'.

So I picked up there new 7 inches, and left to go to work without seeing 'em.

So I'm looking forward to this, the 7 inches we're very soothing to my jangled nerves.

wyzo

kingofsuck (June 23, 2006)

Chad Price (ALL)-vocals/guitar
Jon Snodgrass (Armchair Martian)-vocals/guitar
Spacey Casey (Hot Rod Circuit)-Steel Guitar
Dave Barker (Pinhead Circus)-Drums
JJ Nobody (The Nobodys)-Bass

GlassPipeMurder (June 23, 2006)

can someone please tell me who plays what in this band and from what band they previously came?

kingofsuck (June 23, 2006)

I agree that at first this band just kind of seems like an interesting novelty but eventually becomes more than that. Not my favorite DTR release, but still damn good.

badmouth (June 23, 2006)

you got to admit though Snodgrass has some amazing lyrics