Following the release of a powerful debut EP, The Bonfire Sessions, last spring, Tidalwave Road of Williamsburg, Kentucky has returned with their first full length album. Skin and Bone on Pinecastle Records demonstrates more of the group’s soulful, hard-hitting originality with material drawn from several different sources.
The opening track, Low Down & Lonesome, was cowritten by Rick Lang and Jeff Daugherty. It’s one of the more unique songs about the end of a romantic chapter, as it captures the impact on both partners, and the flood of emotions that oftentimes accompany such a situation. As with the group’s previous effort, the family vocal harmony from Ben Parker and his nephew Carlie Parker is truly astounding. Along with Ben on banjo and Carlie on mandolin, Tidalwave Road also consists of Daniel Parker on bass and Robert Sulfridge on guitar.
The title song, Skin and Bone, by Lang and J. Tony Rackley, paints a portrait of just how grueling daily life can be. It’s a perfect fit for the band vocally and stylistically.
The two standout tracks on this project were both written by Ben Parker. Black Smoke Annie tells the story of a strong woman through descriptive metaphors about automobiles, while Not OK, My Brother deals head on with an individual who seems to be living a rewarding, productive life while simultaneously fighting an internal battle.
There are a couple of interpretations here also, most notably Tom Dooley. Borrowing words and lyrics from different renditions of the traditional folk song, the band makes it completely their own in terms of the melody and the intensity in which the song is rendered. It is without question a riveting performance.
While The Bonfire Sessions gave us a brief sample of what Tidalwave Road brings to the table, Skin and Bone provides a fully developed picture of all the elements that make them who they are as a group. With strong lyricism, emotional grit, and vocal prowess, this is a band that will no doubt captivate anyone who may chance to listen.
