The core of the album for me comes down to three songs... "Chico Calling", "Three Four Time", and "Davey Jones."
"Chico Calling" with its light, folksy guitar and violin picking throughout builds to tell the story of a woman following her lover wherever he may go... "We ain't got no money / we're livin' on a dream / and I look like a beggar / following at your feet / and baby I'll follow you wherever you go..." The song builds and sounds like the train she's trying to ride on as you listen to the train whistle with her.
If you listen to the bluesy "Three Four Time", the baseline seems to sing with Young. It's been stripped down to include just a bit of violin in the background, the barest bit of percussion, the baseline and her voice crooning "You're buried deep in my soul / the one thing I can't control / you've eased my mind / you came in three-four time..."
But for me, "Davey Jones" is the pinnacle of the CD. Each time I hear it, I get chills down my spine. As I hunted for the lyrics, I discovered that it's a cover of an original song performed and written by Gordie Sampson. The Greencards' version uses silence to punctuate the story of a drowning man better than any other song I've heard. And there's something about the bittersweet melodies and lyrics that touches the heart of sailors everywhere tempting fate with each tide.
Be sure to check out The Greencards' album Fascination. They have a unique sound that makes them stand out from the crowd as something new. I can hardly wait to hear what's next for them.
If you want to hear some of their music online, check out their MySpace page and their website. They're currently on tour, so be sure to check them out when they're in your neighborhood!
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I've heard their previous work and enjoyed it. will have to check this out
2 - Fitz
Hey El Bicho... Thanks for the comment. This has to be one of my favorite albums of 2009 so far for sure.