speed of dark

Rutledge, Trepagnier, Gould, and Crawford

The debut CD, Stalk That Myth, by NYC's Bowery Boy Blue is unusual for being based on Greek mythology, as interpreted by Jean-Paul Sartre in his play Les Mouches (synopsis). As ponderous and depressingly artsy as that sounds, the album could not be further from either of those descriptions. Every tune is crafted to make you want to listen again and again, starting with "Great Dead Town" all the way to its twin, the last track, "Dead Great Town." My special favorite is the Wilcoesque "Ahh, What a Cruel Change," closely followed by "Big Blinding Star" and the two Dead Town songs, whose guitar style borrows heavily from late 70's Neil Young--but that's a good thing here!

The author of these songs, Zeb Gould, plays all the guitars on the record himself as well as singing. The part Neil Young/part Wilco sound is developed by Sam Crawford on guitar and lap steel (Crawford also produced and mixed the album), with Michael Trepagnier on bass, and Christian Rutledge - drums.

But this album would not be nearly as good without Megan Gould (nee Weeder, so she may be related by marriage somehow to Zeb), on strings and background harmonies. Megan arranged and plays three of the four pieces in the string quartet that acts as a vocal counterpoint throughout much of the record.

The sisters in the song below are the three Fates who decide the destinies of men in Greek mythology.

From Stalk That Myth (2008):
Come Closer, Sisters
Ahh, What a Cruel Change

I think this is a band you'll be hearing more about. The album will be released this Tuesday, July 29.

MySpace | Website | Label: Space Photo Records | Sonicbids
Buy at Bowery Boy Blue Website