If the Violent Femmes or They Might Be Giants were hillbillies, raised on shapenote singing, bluegrass murder ballads and country evangelical preaching, “Once Removed” is what they likely would have produced. The Bohemian Hillbillies mix together a brew of irony (both lyrical and musical), wit, poignant lyrical detail, bluegrass, show tunes, free jazz drumming, primitive folk style guitar leads and even vaudeville vamps to create one of the most interesting indie releases of 2001. “Baby Sister” begins humorously with slightly askew lyrics and David Byrne-ish “Woo-eeee-hoo” refrains, only to turn on a dime lyrically, delivering a succinct and affecting picture of the desperation of a suicide. Over and over again, the Bohemian Hillbillies catch the listener off guard, setting them up with humor only to yank the listener back with concrete lyrical imagery, poignant and sometimes disturbing. In “Working the Graveyard” Michael Daley sings a classic country waltz with both over the top vocals and lyrics describing an equally classic and hopeless relationship between a working stiff and a girl for whom he can never earn enough money, nor be there at the right hours. And in an instant, he turns it both intimate and genuinely sad with the simple vocal phrasing and multiple meanings of the line “I work for the Moon, I sleep with the Sun. And I don’t even know what you do. While I’m working that graveyard for you.” In “Where Would I Go?” the Bohemian Hillbillies begin with traditional country gospel harmonies, and just when you feel certain you know where this piece is going, they drop in an a cappella chord every bit as dissonant as anything Stockhausen could devise before resolving the melody. “St. Thomas Blues” with it’s near desperate request to “Give me the faith to have faith” takes the listener through a series of odd and interesting musical turn arounds that even the drummer has difficulty following. Still it works. Often this CD feels like a high wire act without a net, musically and lyrically, yet somehow they manage to pull it off. Though they drop in some wonderfully raw and authentic traditional pieces like “Knoxville Girl” and capture a country feel that harkens back to the 60’s Grand ol’ Opry in “Please Don’t Ask,” the CD is at its best when it delves into college alternative sensibilities and defines its own genre. Avant hillbilly? Alternative bluegrass? Definitely original, and worth repeat listens.

I enjoyed the music and lyrics very much, just like one enjoys a gathering of friends having a conversation about life, the good, the bad and the ugly. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a bit apprehensive. I'm getting too old and tired to be brooding. But the Bohemian Hillbillies' treatment of the subject of death is quite authentic, non-jarring, thoughtful, smile-inducing, and much more. I'm not an artist, musical or otherwise, just a consumer of art. I like what I like and I know why. I like people communicating. The Bohemian ones are some mighty smart hillbillies! I love the subtleties. At one point I chuckled at the emerging thought: Billy Joel meets the Fugs! Definitely "roots", in my opinion.