Blue Moon Rising
Strange New World
Rural Rhythm Records
3.5 stars (out of 5)
By Aaron Keith Harris
Blue Moon Rising has had quite a bit of success the last few years, but a series of lineup changes has left them with (if my scorecard is correct) only talented singer, songwriter, guitarist and mandolinist Chris West in the band, but firmly at the helm. Brandon Bostic (mandolin, guitar) and Tony Mowell (bass) both have a softer, more tenor approach to lead singing than West’s booming, rich voice, and both are welcome additions. (However, the liner notes don’t say who sings lead on which track, so I’m at a loss on identifying the non-West lead vocals.) Owen Platt’s banjo, when featured, is strong.
Strange New World is heavy on well-written ballads of medium tempo, which all feature fine lead singing: “Hard Luck Joe,” “Stone by Stone,” “My Sittin’ Window” and “Second Best” among them.
“Never Happy Till I’m Full of Sorrow” is the song that has stuck with me most from this disc, with West at his best on a poor, pitiful me lyric delivered with authority over a simmering arrangement.
“Hearts to Stone,” “Time to Be Movin’ On,” Becky Buller’s “Ain’t No Way,” and “Barely Hangin’ On” are all well-executed, harder-driving bluegrass numbers.
“He’s All Around Us” eschews the bluegrass framework entirely with grating harmonica, drums and a sing-songy melody that carries the West-penned and -sung tale of the devil’s many temptations. West redeems himself though with “Living Water,” a simple hymn of the saving power of God, recorded with a chorus-like effect on the lead and harmony vocals.
“What a Helluva Way to Go” is another of the growing number of songs emerging that describe woes of the current Obama economy with West coming through with an understatedly emotive performance with a stark guitar-and-bass arrangement.
