This EP is the first recorded material officially released by the Corbin Marsh Band, a bluesy folk band from out of Athens, OH. These five songs attempt to capture the sound of this Appalachian band live - few overdubs and no edits.
The tales of whiskey and women, penned by veteran singer/songwriter Corbin Marsh, carry the tunes forward while guitarist Mike Flynn spices things up with his own combination of smooth blues licks and raw gritty riffs. The combination of the two guitars is equal parts Lightning Hopkins and Johnny Winters, with a dash of Ryan Adams tossed into the mix. Bassist J.J. Reed keeps everything well-grounded with lines that expand beyond the traditional "one-five", while drummer Chris Lee provides train beats and vocal harmonies.
But the album isn't so much about the musicians as it is about the songs. Considering no member of the band is over 30, the musical restraint displayed on most of the cuts is noteworthy, with every instrument performing a definite function within each song to maximum lyrical effect. So when the band finally does cut loose, you can't help but feel a certain release, a kind of "hell yeah" moment that pulls you deeper into the song.
Though the subject matter mostly explores heartbreak and homeless roaming, it never feels too weighty for dancing or casual listening. The five songs presented on this album are good for both the beer-swilling Saturday night of a camping trip and the hungover Sunday afternoon that follows.
An excellent little record from a promising new band.
-David Meram, Twichpork Ragazine