Frontier Ruckus “The Orion Songbook” Young hipsters from Michigan play a folksy, indie breed of bluegrass music. “Alt-country” at its finest, with some experimental, spidery banjo lines & poetic, kooky lyrics (“your tight skin confessed not a vein in your chest”). Singer’s voice is distinct: harsh & heartfelt with a sense of immediacy (a la Neutral Milk Hotel, The Decemberists). Worth a listen, even if just to hear a musical saw in action! No FCCs (“son of a bitch” on #9)

1) Explores his vocals in a soft song of both love & remorse
2)** Refreshingly sporadic percussion with some impressive banjo
3) ***Spooky duet w/ female; yearning harmonica, aggressive piano & some haunting musical saw. Sounds like Halloween! Lyrics: “if only you knew what you are”
4) Sufjan Stevens meets the banjo – result is sadly unexceptional
5)*** Banjo, horns lead this upbeat, jubilant bluegrass fun-fest; ends w/ :05 left
6) Desperate song; vocals cry out, horns shine w/ deep gloom of New Orleans
7) slow, acoustic guitar song; more folk than country; voice is v. Neutral Milky
8) banjo plucks gingerly alongside acoustic guitar & great piano palpitations
9) ***“SON OF A BITCH” forceful percussion, really rumbly voice, nice horns
10) starts out with some haunting musical saw & harmonies; slow acoustic strums
11) **blend of upbeat folk and spooky musical saw; small town lyrics
12) easy-going travel song about going home, nostalgic banjo solo & harmonies
13) **Builds to a nice hoe-down in the middle; banjo lick guides the rest; Tour de force that highlights all of their instrumentation (6:55)
14) artful acoustic guitar; slow ballad to end the CD

Bailey Richardson baileyr@stanford.edu