Hensleysturgis – Cabin Fever

On their debut disc Open Lanes, Barry Hensley and Jason Sturgis made for quite the complementary pair. Basically alternating tunes, the duo offered up songs in fairly distinctive styles: Hensley (formerly of Big back Forty) penned the poppier numbers, while Sturgis’ rough-hewn tunes had a slower pace. Their sophomore effort finds the two still operating democratically, each contributing six songs and collaborating on the closing cut.

What’s different is the lines aren’t so clearly drawn between their styles. Sturgis displays a harder edge on the twangy rocker “Spark In The Dark”, while “Which William” and “Ledge” reveal that Hensley has dirtied up his sound. The disc also boasts a fuller, more robust sound. Not only do Hensley and Sturgis display an increased confidence in their music making, but HensleySturgis also is a full band this time around. The rhythm section, now solidified around drummer Pat McGann (who appeared on the debut) and new bassist Trent Arnold, adds muscle to the mix. The songs are injected with a greater dynamic sense, which makes this record a more potent piece of music.

While they may not yet have broken into the alt-country’s upper echelon, these Ohio boys do mine a very appealing Midwestern vein of Americana. At their best, on wistful yet rugged tunes such as “Bottom Land”, “Driving Back From Dayton” and “Abandon”, they impressively blend melodic, bucolic mellowness with energetic rock grittiness.