Deadstring Brothers – Starving Winter Report
Singer-guitarist-writer Kurt Marschke and his Deadstring Brothers compatriots are steeped in Dead Flowers-era Stones, The Band, Gram Parsons, Dylan, and other deep-rooted sounds. But this Detroit band has assimilated its influences into a full, organic sound and, hell, its not Marschkes fault his upper register is like Mick in Exile. Sacred Heart, with slide guitar, pushing organ, piano fills, and backing vocals conjuring Delaney & Bonnie, perfectly sets the template, its declaration that Nothing last forever, baby, no one lives that long hinting at weariness and danger. Lights Go Out, with pedal steel and pretty piano, builds a tale of life coming apart. Other high points include Talkin Born Blues, with slicing dobro and barrelhouse piano; Get Up Jake, a pounding take on a Band tune; and the fiddle-driven Moonlight Only Knows.