INTERVIEW: Plumb
- Bob Gajarsky
While Nashville has been evolving as a writer's and musician's heaven, much of the sounds emanating from the Tennessee city have veered somewhere between country or secular pop. With a hard-edged guitar sound crossing the outer edges of trip-hop, the foursome known as Plumb hope to show on their self-titled debut album that their hometown can offer more than just your typical music fare.
The foundation of Plumb was laid when lead singer Tiffany Arbuckle was performing the typical low-pay work in the studios - background vocals for some bands, and additional session work - when the Nashville-based Essential label offered her the opportunity to expand on her own - fronting, writing, and leading the band now called Plumb. This debut was formally released through Essential and Silvertone Records.
Ms. Arbuckle exposes much of her soul through Plumb's lyrics - witness the haunting and touching "Willow Tree". Based on an aunt who made alcohol the most important aspect of her life, the chorus of the song - 'Take the second right at the second light / Pass Cherry Street, go left / It's the second house with a willow tree / I'll be there waiting' - is almost verbatim directions on how her returning husband could get back to their house.
"She (my aunt) put alcohol in the #1 spot of her life," Arbuckle recalls, "in turn putting everything else, including her marriage, below that. It's a song reminding you that alcohol addiction or addiction of any sort isn't good. The top priority, next to your Maker, should be a spouse then family, etc. - not booze. When anything gets in the way of that, the outcome is pain."
The breathy and soft "Endure" recalls some of Arbuckle's inspirations - the Sundays' Harriet Wheeler and Natalie Merchant (while in 10,000 Maniacs). In the wake of the successful Lilith tour, this radio-friendly track could be the song which propels Plumb into the spotlight.
"Unforgivable" is a rocker which alternately moves from in your face guitar to a more passive, relaxed atmosphere and (to me) stands out, even if it's not the first single. The lyrics are written from the viewpoint of Arbuckle's best high school friend, and her stepfather's constant deriding comparisons to his 'natural' daughter.
"He (her stepfather) tore her down verbally and emotionally. Somehow, this abuse played a molding part in who she is today. But the hope in the song is the bridge - it's forgiveness. Nothing you have done, or has been done to you is unforgivable. Whether it is the father or the daughter - everything can be forgiven through the grace of God."
Another alterna-rock track with pop sensibilities is the leadoff single, "Sobering (Don't Turn Around)". Imagine Garbage or Sneaker Pimps moving the loops to the background, and turning up the amplifier, and you'll have an idea of how Plumb is taking one of the musical flavors of the month and turning it 45 degrees.
Through it all, Plumb and Arbuckle try to look towards the future. "We try to encourage people based on the pain we have experienced. With every valley, there is a mountain top to look forward to; that hope is in each song, and is what we're all about."
Plumb will be on tour with labelmates Jars of Clay throughout late 1997.
