Artist: Hard Working Americans
Album: Rest In Chaos
Bitrate: 248kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Melvin Records
Genre: Rock
Size: 124.83 megs
PlayTime: 1h 06min 39sec total
Rip Date: 2016-05-13
Store Date: 2016-05-13
Track List:
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01. Opening Statement 5:19
02. It Runs Together 3:22
03. Half Ass Moses 4:22
04. Dope Is Dope 3:22
05. Burnout Shoes 5:54
06. Roman Candles 5:32
07. Ascending Into Madness 5:20
08. Throwing The Goats 5:23
09. Something Else 7:04
10. Massacre 5:52
11. The High Price Of Inspiration 3:28
12. Acid 7:48
13. Purple Mountain Jamboree 3:53
Release Notes:
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Like the innumerable brethren within the demographic to which their name
alludes, Hard Working Americans are an amalgam of distinct personalities, united
within a bond of support around Todd SniderÆs keenly wrought songs. The strength
of Rest in Chaos, however, is the humble means by which the six individual
personalities graciously assume roles that nurture their solidarity within this
band.
As evinced on ôOpening Statement,ö Snider clearly loves the English language,
for its own sake and as a means to the end of telling apocryphal stories like
that of ôDope Is Dopeö or creating vivid characters such as those that populate
ôThrowing the Goats.ö And his weathered voice, combined with an unaffected vocal
delivery, only adds to the indelible effect of his singing. That, in turn,
compels reading the lyrics printed on the liner insert. Yet if SnyderÆs melodic
gifts didnÆt match his verbal virtues, Hard Working Americans wouldnÆt have
such fertile ground to hoe.
The economical decoration added by guitarist Neal Casal complements that of his
fretboard counterpart Jesse Aycock on the initial cut, while the rhythm section
of Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools and Panic drummer Duane Trucks (brother
of Derek), metronomic in the most positive sense, also create an increasingly
foreboding air with each successive beat on ôIt Runs Together.ö The other
projects to which these players contribute precludes overstatement within the
this ensemble: they all know they can afford to be restrained and judicious in
their contributions.
Hearing finely tuned vocal harmonies on the refrain of ôHalf Ass Mosesö reminds
how versatile is this bandÆs array of virtues, all of which are rooted in the
sextetÆs sure command of the fundamentals of singing and playing. And this down
to earth approach allows them to successfully build a track like that of ôBurnt
Out Shoes,ö layered aplenty while still maintaining a measure of simplicity,
because the instruments, particularly Chad StaehlyÆs keyboards, are so evenly
spread across the stereo spectrum.
Whether producer Schools made the decision or not, it was smart to arrange Bob
Ludwig to master of Rest in Chaos: his expertise maintains a sonic clarity that
captures the multiplicity of sounds on these thirteen cuts. But as ôRoman
Candlesöattests, such technical know how also creates an enveloping atmosphere
that furthers a sensation of this album as a dream sequence in song. Even with
its confessional intent, ôAscending into Madnessö (from which lyrics this album
derives its title) extends that sensory impact.
In a similar instance of savvy sequencing, a short, stripped-down take on Guy
ClarkÆs ôThe High Price of Inspirationö (with the author playing guitar) leads
almost immediately into the appropriately cacophonous ôAcid.ö The songÆs
textural intensity is ideal as the penultimate track on the record, especially
as ôPurple Mountain Jamboree, ö a slice of gospel-tinged bedrock boogie, brings
this varied affair to a solid close. Along with Lukas Nelson and the Promise of
the Real, Hard Working Americans are reconfiguring elements of folk, country and
rock into a combustible mix of the visceral and cerebral. As such, their romps
through a song like ôThrowing the Goats,ö call as loudly for singing, dancing
and air-guitaring along as ôMassacreö will thrust any listener deep into soul
searching.