Music review: Hard Working Americans – 鈥楬ard Working Americans鈥�
The eponymous debut release by the newly formed supergroup, Hard Working Americans, captures the day-to-day struggles of the average working-class American.
Singer-songwriter Todd Snider assembles an all-star cast that includes Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools, Chris Robinson Brotherhood guitarist Neal Casal, Great American Taxi keyboardist Chad Staehly and King Lincoln drummer Duane Trucks.
For the self-titled album, these five veteran musicians interpret and expand an engaging collection of lesser-known arrangements from various top-notch writers.
Snider蘑菇视频 original concept for the new album was to combine the songs of some of America蘑菇视频 best songwriters with some of the most talented jam-band artists on today蘑菇视频 music circuit.
The 11-track set offers up one monster jam session consisting of Americana, blues and rock from such writers as Randy Newman, Lucinda Williams, Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack.
The album also features appearances by John Popper of Blues Traveler on harmonica and John Keane on guitar and banjo.
Frankie Miller蘑菇视频 鈥淏lackland Farmer鈥� opens the album and sets the tone by conveying the plight of the American farmer with an earthy and dark edge.
The rambunctious boogie of 鈥淪tomp and Holler鈥� propels the album蘑菇视频 first single with a dose of swagger and Southern-styled funk. Snider, a folk singer by trade, delivers a vocal style oddly reminiscent of a cross between Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr.(Dr. John) and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
鈥淢r. President Have Pity on the Working Man鈥� may have been written when Richard Nixon was President, but it still remains relevant today as the blues number pleads for our leaders to set aside their lofty aspirations in favor of providing solutions to assist the working man.
鈥淲recking Ball,鈥� which was penned by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch, brings the poignant daily narrative of the American working man to an acoustically tender close. The material was recorded at Bob Weir蘑菇视频 (Grateful Dead) TRI Studios and possesses a little of his legendary band蘑菇视频 organic vibe.
The group plans on taking to the road this year with a handful of tour dates already finalized and plenty more to be announced.