Since this blog is indeed one that leans towards the realms of Bluegrass and Blues (for some reason that cannot be recalled) it is only fitting that we discuss the emergence of The Heartless Bastards; a band that encapsulates both genres yet goes beyond them as well. Their 2009 release of “The Mountain” is a great example of this generic synergism, yet so well crafted that one who would proclaim to fancy neither blues nor bluegrass could still easily fall in love with this album without a second thought. That is because this band seems to be practiced and blessed with a touch of the spirit of timeless rock n’ roll, impeccable timing, and an excellent, balanced style of recording that seems to understand that it’s okay not to turn all the amps up to 11.
The band hails from Dayton, Ohio and is headed by guitarist and lead vocalist-rock queen-Erika Wennerstrom. She is supported by drummer Dave Colvin and bassist Jesse Ebaugh. The three piece has released two albums prior to The Mountain; in 2005 they introduced themselves with Stairs and Elevators and in 06′ brought us All This Time. Both of those albums, by the way, are wonderful works worthy of your attention (All This Time is especially kick-ass, but I wander…). The Mountain, however, sets itself apart by what I feel is a palpable maturity of song writing, where the tracks choose not to challenge your ear with complexity but with a heavy, thick, meditated, yet overall talented sense of rock composition.
This album was recorded in Austin, with producer Mike McCarthy, who is well known for helping to make Spoon one of the preeminent bands around today. This might be the reason why the drums are so pleasantly driving and toe-tapping throughout the album without ever being over-bearing (just as on those great spoon LPs). Ringo Starr always said that one should play the drums for-and-to the vocalist, this forgotten recording method is employed by The Bastards masterfully within this album.
But what gives this band, and indeed this album, its staying power is the way they smoothly present and combine generic shifts. The opening track, The Mountain, shows us The Bastards straight up rock skills with a great quasi-psychedelic rock song that has Erika singing in a manner a la Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane. (There is a background guitar sound in that track that is engineered/placed so well that it sounded like it was coming from a separate speaker placed 6 feet behind my stereo!) Yet the very next track, Could Be So Happy, is just an almost folky interplay between only a guitar and the vocalist. Yet it is a beautifully written song that will have you mesmerized on the presented human voice. Then right away they break into, Early In The Morning, a louder rock n’ roll foot-tapper that praises the electric guitar while never forgetting the intricate balance of energy between the drums and the vocals. Then on the track, Had To Go, we are laid witness to a truly bluegrass expression with an initial amazing display of american-roots vocals (both in the writing and presentation) that slowly decays into solely instrumentation with a bewtiching fiddle and guitar interaction that makes one want to close their eyes and float down a slow moving river.
Balance is maybe a defining term for this album, which is why I believe many people will enjoy it; for one can hear in it what they would like to. Is that blues based or bluegrass? Is that more rock n’ roll or is that psychedelic? Is that track, Hold Your Head High, a slow dance or a climaxing rock ballad?
All in all I put forth that The Mountain by The Heartless Bastards is not only one of the best albums of 2009 but is one of the best expressions of a balanced, non-overdriven, yet undoubtedly rock recordings I have heard in a while. One qualm I do have is that they seemed to have employed a compressor or effect that gives the voice a slightly crackling sound upon moments of higher emphasis (maybe to obtain a slightly retro sound I am not sure). Yet while when listening on vinyl this effect is usually subtle it is still a little much, this is shown mostly on the otherwise pleasant bluegrass song, So Quiet. Yet the effect’s, at times, harshness doesn’t translate well when listening to little headphones from an MP3. This effect notwithstanding, The Mountain is a wonderfully produced medley of blues, bluegrass, and quasi-psychedelic rock n’ roll that is sure to put The Heartless Bastards on the proverbial map. This author’s suggestion; check this album out now, preferably on vinyl!
By Sean Poynton Brna
