Spending some time with Switchback's latest release "Ghosts of the River Folk" I could not shake a sense of déjà vu.

It took some time to put my finger on it because I usually encounter the talents of Marty McCormack and Brian Fitzgerald as they apply them to Irish and otherwise Celtic tunes, and have only begun to scratch the surface of what they have accomplished on the folk/American scene, but this new sound had a familiar ring to it that was something outside of what I'd experienced with Switchback's music before.

Then it hit me that what I was hearing was very similar in tone and delivery to one of my favorite periods in rock history - that innocent period just after the break from traditional folk but just before drugs began to become commonplace. A time when lyrics were cleanly delivered, the melodies were catchy and the message was optimistic.

Because in every tune on this new offering, McCormack and Fitzgerald, ably backed by a full band, revive that kind of vocal purity and musical honesty that was the hallmark of so many songs of that era. These songs even somehow manage to capture the naiveté that made so many of those old songs not only endearing but timeless.

It would be easy to pick out a favorite from this collection of bouncy tunes, "The Miser" perhaps, or "The Mayfly Dance" and its story of one incredible and unforgettable night, or even the wistful "Black Mountain," but it is perhaps better to listen to this CD as a whole. Because then you may hear what I heard here and, like me, become transported back to a time when rock and roll was still being sung by fresh-faced, optimistic former folkies.

Trust me, it's a trip well worth taking, all courtesy of two very talented gentlemen named Martin McCormack and Brian Fitzgerald.
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That is NOT Switchback...oh, wait! That IS Switchback. You won't believe your ears when you hear the newest CD, "Ghosts of the River Folk". Think Beatles/Pop/Snap infused with all the wholesome goodness Switchback brings to every project. I heard there was a Beatlesque sound to the new CD and almost tossed it aside and yet, it is Switchback so I HAD to pop it in. Yes, there was Marty and Brian without a doubt but they were somehow channeling some of the sounds from my big sister's transistor radio through them. They have pulled the best of what Pop has ever had to offer with the clear, evocative and soul-stirring storytelling that we've come to expect from these kings of Indie music. Timeless tales of love and heartache woven through every song with the sharp needle of current culture. It is pure Switchback and you are going to love this latest turn they take.
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Congrats to Brian and Marty on an excellent new album.  Heartfelt, authentic and moving songs.  I feel like I'm sitting around the fire on the sandbar on tracks like ordinary town.  The album represents an interesting and compelling maturation of sounds from previous albums.  Although this album has a "bigger" soundscape with more production and additional excellent musicians in the mix, it retains the genuine and unique sounds and perspectives of this talented duo.  Highly recommended!
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Marty McCormack and Brian FitzGerald have created another collection of amazing songs in their latest package of musical jewels called "Ghosts of the River Folk." Every cut on this album is similar to the original ‘Switchback’ sound, but to me....I can hear something very close to the British sound that changed pop music forever when it first made it's way into our culture.  As bold as this sounds even to me, I hear shades of ‘Rubber Soul’ here.
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