REVIEW: Acoustic Junction, Strange Days (Omad)
- Joann D. Ball
There is only one name for the musical intersection of rock, power pop, country and folk, and that is Acoustic Junction. And as singer/songwriter Reed Foehl recently learned, Acoustic Junction is the only name for his much beloved band.
Foehl and his band mates return true to form on Strange Days, and the long awaited release of this fourth studio effort reflects hard lessons learned in the past several years of the band's decade long career. Signed to Capricorn Records in 1997, the band recorded a studio release under the new moniker Fool's Progress, but the major changes ultimately alienated the band from its roots. Despite maintaining the signature rock, country and more hybrid sound, the ill-fated name change left longtime fans wondering what had happened to one of Boulder, Colorado's most popular bands.
But that's all in the past, because the delightfully lengthy Strange Days, which flows perfectly from start to end, represents a wonderful new beginning for Acoustic Junction. The fourteen tracks are honest and straightforward, with Foehl's insightful lyrics brought to life by a skillful blend of acoustic and electric instruments which is the foundation of the band's full melodic sound. With Foehl at the helm, Curtis Thompson on bass, Tom Diehl on drums and Tim Roper handling a number of instruments including organ, piano and harmonica, Acoustic Junction will certainly win back old supporters while expanding its vast fan base.
Opening track "Every Heart" travels along the same gravel road as Grammy Award winner Lucinda Williams. The first radio single "Melt," which features former Hall and Oates bassist and former Saturday Night Live band member T-Bone Wolk on accordion, bass and reso guitar, unfolds slowly into a touching tale of longing and sorrow and then segues into the uplifting, big blue sky feel of the title song, "Strange Days." Drummer Kenny Aronoff, from John Mellencamp's band, provides the beat on this track, as well as on the slower tempo numbers "Green" and "Long Way 'Toil Tomorrow," and also on "Contender," a bittersweet tale of "could have beens" that features T-Bone Wolk's pulsing bass and a stinging guitar solo from Adam Steinberg. Acoustic Junction also received help from the legendary Graham Nash of CSN&Y, who duets with Foehl on the beautifully tender "Dancin' For You."
Given all that Acoustic Junction has survived in the past few years, Strange Days is a triumph for a band that toured endlessly to make a name for itself. But at least for Acoustic Junction the deal signed at the crossroads didn't mean the demise of one of Boulder, Colorado's best bands. Acoustic Junction has been reborn with a firm sense of purpose and in Strange Days, one of the best records of the year.
