Assiniboine & the Red - The Small Glories (as told by Mr. Bones)

In “Assiniboine” Carla Luft (ex of the Wailin’ Jennys) and JD Edwards join to create a folk-grass sound that is as crisp and clear as the Canadian outback that the album celebrates. Luft’s claw hammer banjo coupled with her and Edward’s crystal clear vocals and a crack rhythm section celebrate their native place in a manner similar to what Gregory Isakov did in Evening Machines’ reflection on the majesty of Colorado. Not a big banjo fan, don’t worry, Luft’s picking is up front but nicely complemented with plenty of other great americana players.

RIYL: Mandolin Orange, Civil Wars

*1 Alberta - slow, beautiful ode to the Canadian prairie with Luft & Edward’s tandem vocals nicely complemented by fiddle and rich acoustic bass. (4:34)
**2 Long Long Moon - slow & sorrowful tale of a fisherman’s drowning with nicely overlaid vocals
*3 Oh My Love – happy, uptempo story of separated lovers
*4 Johnson Slide – driving bass drum sets eery tone for story of spirits & survival (4:52)
*5 Sing – mid-tempo protest about today’s polarized society (2:50)
*6 Don’t Back Down – mid-tempo with great fiddle break (4:01)
7 Second Hand – uptempo, joyous celebration of experiencing life 1st hand (3:05)
8 Pieces of Me – slow & spare about a break up (4:42)
9 You Can’t Be High – down-tempo, mostly acoustic duet between Luft & Edwards (3:47)
10 Winnipeg – fun toe tapper celebrating the song’s namesake (4:02)

* Mr. Bones especially likes these