The Grahams debut release, Riverman’s Daughter, has literally been a lifetime in the making. The duo, comprised of Alyssa and Doug Graham, initially met in a first grade classroom, and later fell in love as teenagers in New York City. You could say that their entire lives have led up to this release. On February 4th, The Grahams reintroduced their January debut with a deluxe edition, adding six new songs to the original release. Among the new songs are live acoustic versions, of “If You’re in New York” and “Good Man,” as well as a cover of Neil Young’s “Down by the River” and “Springfield ‘61,” which brings the duo together with The North Mississippi Allstars.
Riverman’s Daughter is a well orchestrated riverboat ride down the Mississippi. They take us on a field trip through the deep south with haunting american gothic songs, like “Riverman’s Daughter” and “Cathedral Pines.” The album isn’t all doom and gloom though it is also chocked full of love songs, such as “Carrying the Torch”, “Good Man” and “If You’re in New York.” The Grahams naturally chemistry vividly comes through vividly on these tracks. The real surprise in the new songs featured on the deluxe edition is the cover of Young’s “Down by the River” (one of the only songs featuring Doug Graham on lead vocals). They don’t compromise the guitar or the vocal style of the song, but just add a little bit of twang to make it their own. Still the real gem on this album is the Patsy “Clined” “You Made Me Love You.” It takes us back to a time when country music was king of the radio airwaves.
This is a country record in every sense of the word. Now I know that “country music” is a figurative four letter word. However, when I say “country” record, I mean in the vein of Alison Krauss and Lucinda Williams, and not in the vein of Toby Keith and Carrie Underwood. Riverman’s Daughter takes us “true” country music fans back to a time before the big country radio crossover into the mainstream. When names like Dwight Yokum, Rodney Crowell, Trisha Yearwood and Pam Tillis ruled the video waves of CMT. When you could still hear the influences and tip of the hats to the greats like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Riverman’s Daughter lives in a time capsule before country music was full of song references to rednecks, and sexy tractors. It takes us back to a time when country music had sustenance.
Grade: A
0 comments
Post a Comment