THE GREENCARDS: Viridian

The Greencards

Viridian

© 2007 THE GREENCARDS

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New Underground Folk with a bluegrass influence.

notes

Four short years ago, a green card was an immigration document - now The Greencards are an acoustic music phenomenon that has played around the world, headlined major festivals, won awards, and toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. They’ve released three fine albums, and their latest release, Viridian, was nominated at the Grammy Awards Ceremony in 2008 for ‘Best Country Instrumental Performance’. Their label debut Weather and Water was strong enough to win them a slot on the Dylan/Nelson tour, but then they had to deliver. Fortunately, The Greencards have an ability to go out on stage in front of 20,000 strangers, and magically turn them into friends and fans. It’s happened at Merlefest, Telluride and Austin City Limits, on both US coasts, Down South and Down Under, and of course many times in Austin Texas, “The Live Music Capital of the World”, city of the band’s chance origins and initial successes. Their respect for bluegrass is very evident, but they also bend their music to include more modern influences such as Patty Griffin and Tim O’Brien, meaning you’re just as likely to find them filed under ‘Americana’ as anything else.

They’re a trio, in case you haven’t met. Carol Young plays bass and sings most of the songs; Kym Warner picks the mandolin and bouzouki, while Eamon McLoughlin plays fiddle and viola. The most conspicuous thing they have in common is that they ‘ain’t American’. McLoughlin is English. Warner and Young are Australians. But all three grew up in households full of honest American roots music - Merle, Lefty, Ricky, Dolly, Loretta to name a few. Honing their talents at jam sessions and gigs in their homelands they eventually took the bold step of moving to the States to find their musical home. When Kym and Carol met Eamon at a recording session in Austin, the chemistry was there from the outset. Before long, their friendly bluegrass jams turned them into one of the city’s most popular bands. They made fans and friends of scene leaders like Robert Earl Keen and the Bruce Robison/Kelly Willis family, who took them on the road and introduced them to larger audiences. Their self-released debut album Movin’ On pushed them to create original music, writing and scouting for songs that broke the rules of bluegrass as they began to carve out a niche in the blossoming Americana scene.

Accolades followed. They took ‘Best New Band’ at the Austin Music Awards in 2004. The Greencards landed a deal with Dualtone in 2005 and released Weather and Water to great acclaim. Dylan and Nelson tapped them to open their now-famous U.S. tour of minor league baseball parks in the summer of 2005, 30 dates in all. Their video for the song “Time” became one of the most played on GAC and CMT’s Americana shows. They won ‘New/Emerging Artist of the Year’ at the Americana Awards in 2006. They were in the company of Keith Urban when nominated by the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) for ‘Best Country Album’ of 2007, and in February of 2008 they traveled to Los Angeles for their first ever Grammy nomination!

The Greencards pull all this off with a respect for tradition, and a zest for innovation: “I think you have to have a level of humility and honesty that we don’t always have, but that’s what we strive for.” They fit into history on a line that connects New Grass Revival to Patty Griffin to Hot Rize, but they remain vibrantly independent, mingling discipline and daring in exquisite balance. On top of all that, they’re genuinely nice folks who still admire their heroes as much as they did before their heroes admired them. They’re pretty happy with that.

Viridian – Released March 2007 on Dualtone Records

High expectations faced The Greencards when they entered a Nashville studio to record Viridian. Kym says their experiences made it easier, not harder, to confront the challenge. “We’ve done a lot of miles since that first album,” he reflected. “We’ve played a lot, traveled a lot and learned a lot more about ourselves. We’re probably a lot more comfortable musically.” That’s not to say they didn’t reach beyond what their fans or critics might expect from them. With guitarist and Patty Griffin collaborator Doug Lancio in a co-producer’s role, Young, Warner and McLoughlin trusted their guts, stepped out of the safety of recording studio isolation booths and sat together in a big open room in real time. They chose songs with their hearts, eschewing the luxury of road-tested material, opting instead for new music that would challenge them to create on the fly.

“Obviously you have to be prepared,” says Eamon, “but you can be over-prepared, where you have blinkers on and you can’t hear anymore because you’re playing to a very strict idea of what you think it should be. In order to get that honesty you have to go in and say, ‘Right, I don’t know what I’m going to play here. I don’t know what I’m going to sing. Let’s figure it out.’” That spontaneity is evident from the first notes of the opening track “Waiting On The Night,” a slinky groove backed by romantic rooftop-in-the-city guitar and a deftly arranged string section. When Carol (who wrote the song with old friend and collaborator Jedd Hughes) sings “To be young and living life, Free as a bird in the sky,” there’s a first-hand truthfulness about it that might well have come from the band’s detailed and absorbing road blog.

The Greencards’ move to Nashville put them close to a huge array of fellow songwriters, and Kym took particular advantage of the opportunity to stretch. Sessions with pop craftsman David Mead produced “River of Sand,” a melancholy and melodically spellbinding song that wound up fitting Carol’s voice perfectly. It’s one of several examples of Carol’s mature and involving touch with ballads (be sure to check out the Kim Richey/Mike Henderson song “I Don’t Want To Lose You”). Kym and Carol collaborated with bluegrass great Ronnie Bowman on “Who Knows,” a true blue slice of Kentucky earth, with a “Walls of Time” groove laid down by master drummer Larry Attamanuik. Two songs came from Kym’s co-writes with veteran Jerry Salley, including the uplifting “Shinin’ In The Dark” and “Lonesome Side of Town,” which Carol accurately tags as the most extreme hard-core bluegrass tune the band’s ever committed to tape. Kym’s writer’s journey also found him tapping his own family history for the first time in “All The Way From Italy,” a portrait of his grandparents’ emigration from Italy to Australia many decades ago. Again Carol interprets Warner’s words with an emotional connection as sure as if she’d written them herself.

Eamon contributed another tune sure to re-calibrate expectations of The Greencards. He says when he demoed “When I Was In Love With You” for Lancio, the co-producer said immediately he wanted to hear a “Ramones meets The Pogues” production, which suited Eamon exactly. “The song was written like an English folk song, and I wanted to sing it like that. Doug wanted to go Punk!”

Finally, known for its instrumental chops, The Greencards weren’t going to complete an album without some solid tunes. Eamon contributes “Su Prabhat” a haunting modal piece that marries East and West with musical diplomacy. Kym’s CD-closing and Grammy nominated “Mucky The Duck” embraces the Celtic-influenced newgrass sound that will probably always be in the band’s DNA.

reviews

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  • author: Suzanne Whitaker

    I can't come up with the proper words to describe this CD and this band. The music, the blend of voices, Carol Young's voice, the sheer genius and the tremendous talent of these artists will make your heart sing, flutter, and swell. This is what their music does for me. I'm so glad they decided to come to Texas and form The Greencards. The unique sound of this group is truly "ear candy" at its best! It's really difficult to say which of their three CD's is my favorite, as I have favorite tunes from all three, but Viridian is something else! I never get tired of listening. When I need a lift, I put on a Greencards CD and all is right with my world again. I can't wait for a new CD from The Greencards!!

  • Viridian
    author: Bob Hall

    Another solid album from this young and talented group. Delicate vocals with matched harmonies, driving bluegrass coupled with Americana roots folk music. The Greencards continue to evolve and attract new audiences, but this CD will continue to satisfy their dedicated fans around the globe. Hard to pick a favorite, but rest assured, you might find it eventually, but in the meantime keep listening to this great CD in its entirity...it's hard to imagine that anyone could get tired of listening to this CD over and over.

  • The best album yet!
    author: Pat from Atlanta

    The more I listen to this CD the more I like it, the song selection is more eclectic than the previous two albums and Carol sings them beautifully. I am in awe of the talent of these musicians, they really make the instruments come alive and tell a story of their own. Love it!

  • Awesome!
    author: Jerry

    I turned to my wife and said "I scored on this one!". The whole CD is excellent!

  • This one is the best all songs are a Hit!
    author: Mary

    This CD is their best work. I have shared it with all my friends and they could not wait to get their own copy. Beautiful Music

  • Delirious fun …. bright, brisk and full of brilliant musical vignettes
    author: Joe Ross

    Playing Time – 44:04 -- Warm, comforting and as smooth as suede, “Viridian” has shimmering music that is like rays of sunlight reflecting from a serene lake on a breezy summer day. From Australia and Great Britain, the spunky trio that now makes their home in Nashville (via Austin, Tx.) previously released two albums and toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson in the 2000s. More than emerging troubadours, the mysterious and fascinating Greencards have arrived with an electrifying neotraditional alt-folk sound. They used to be more rooted in bluegrass, but their music is evolving into their very own sumptuous contemporary Americana styling. Perhaps that is why they call the album “Viridian,” a durable bluish-green pigment. Because the trio has endured, they also display added cohesion these days. Nominated by CMA Australia for “Best Female Vocalist,” Carol Young has a torchy voice with seductive charm. She also plays electric bass. “River of Sand” and “I Don’t Want To Lose You” are mesmerizing and crowning moments on this album. From Adelaide, Kym Warner has won four consecutive Australian mandolin championships from 1994-1997. He also plays bouzouki on this project. Warner’s “All The Way From Italy” documents his family’s emigration from Italy to Australia. From London, red-headed fiddler Eamon McLoughlin was classically trained at London’s Royal School of Music and has toured with the Austin Lounge Lizards. McLoughlin based “When I Was In Love With You” on a English poem by A.E. Housman, and the song melds punk-era simplicity with the magic of classic folk traditionalism. Capturing their band’s lineage and inspirations, original instrumentals “Su Prabhat” and “Mucky the Duck” trace roots and evolution of their band’s signature sound through Celtic, old-time and newgrass genealogy. Growing up on American roots music from Lefty to Loretta, these exuberant young folks decided to follow their muse to the U.S. where they have been able to further develop and harness the melodies, lyrics, harmony, dissonance and spirit that just needed an outlet for release. The band is joined by guests Doug Lancio, Bryan Sutton, Larry Attamanuik, Jedd Hughes, Andrea Zonn, and Viktor Krauss. Chris Carmichael arranged the string quartet. The Greencards’ music is delirious fun …. bright, brisk and full of brilliant musical vignettes. Their stirring original material is smart and introspective. Memories and emotions are interwoven with fantasies, observations, and interludes. Written by Kym Warner and Jerry Salley, “Lonesome Side of Town” shows that they haven’t forgotten the rules and sideboards of straight-ahead bluegrass. “Shinin’ in the Dark” is another from both writers. The songcrafting of “Who Knows” included collaboration with Ronnie Bowman, and that number with a jamgrass groove asks a poignant question about what tomorrow holds. A hint is that “in harmony we find the answer.” While always tasteful, drummer Larry Attamanuik’s beat could’ve been toned down a few decibels in the mix. With music that is rehearsed, flowing and expertly produced. The Greencards are carving out their own niche among listeners who enjoy a hybrid of styles and the fusion of classic folk balladry with a bluegrass consciousness. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

  • As usual, another awesome CD !
    author: Sunny Castille

    #3 is a great addition to the other two albums. It definitely has a hauntingly great sound. Can't pick out my favorite song, they're all just terrific!

  • I didn't think they could top their first album
    author: Jane

    I thought that their first album was the best and then this one showed up in the mail and I can't stop listening. Favorite tracks are "Who Knows" and "All the way from Italy". Worth the money spent and then some.

  • Refreshing spin on traditional Bluegrass
    author: Richard Dickens

    Their 3rd CD continues to expose great talent. Vocals and instrumentals put a refreshing spin on traditional Bluegrass. Had the opportunity to hear them live and chat with each member in December. When we heard the songs from the new CD, we knew it was a must have. Keep the great music coming!

  • give me more
    author: Rob Greig

    It was BBC Radio DJ Bob Harris who introduced me to The Greencards, driving home one late night. And I just had to turn up the volume as they played the most amazing session in his show. The next day I contacted the record label and bought their first two albums... madness! But I was confident from what I heard that it was worth it. And it is indeed. Love the delivery, how their voices sound so much their in the room with you, and this new album is being worn out (if it is possible to wear out CDs like this). I can't wait to sometime catch them playing live.

  • I love all the Greencards other CDs and I really love this one too!!!
    author: Justina Batchelor

    I was so exicted to find out that the Greencards have a new CD out and it totally lived up to my expectations. The Greencards stay true to their bluegrass roots but are always fresh and exciting. My favorite tack on this album is Shinin' in the Dark it rocks!

  • ...the sounds just keep getting better
    author: debbi & reese evans

    YEAH Baby...after seeing this group at in Salem Va we couldn't hardly wait for the new cd they were recording....good sound we turned a few friends on to it...now we are wondering how can we get them to the Outer Banks of NC..Kitty Hawk NC...

  • Wonderful CD
    author: Dennis Ellerbee

    On a scale of one to ten this CD is an eleven plus. What a fresh sound the Greencards have. The musicianship is outstanding and Carol Young is one great vocalist. Not since the New Grass Revival has a group been this exciting.

  • Makes you wanta cry, it's so good
    author: David Wozniak

    I put this one on soon after it arrived in the mail but I couldn't get all the way through - I was so blown away I needed to rest on the first half and come back later when I had pulled myself together a bit from the first exposure. WOW!

  • Great service-excellent CD
    author: MJ Phillips

    Saw the Greencards LIVE and this CD was everything I expected! Thanks.

  • More from one of the best groups around
    author: Tom W.

    The Greencards have been taking a new variation to an old sound and making it new and unique. This CD shows that talent beautifully and develops it to a greater depth than either of their previous two CDs did. A wonderful CD and great addition to any collection.

  • It is exactly what I expected from the Greencards.
    author: James Hessler

    This Cd shows they can expand on their style without straying from their roots. I liked the sassy flair on the opening track. I am having trouble to picking a favorite song from it though. I guess I'll have to keep playing it over and over until I do.

  • One of the sweetest and most moving albums I've heard for a long while
    author: Ron Sinclair

    I just received the CD Down Under and boy am I stoked. It's one of the sweetest and most moving albums I've heard in a long while and the amazing musicianship of the trio shines again. These guys have really nailed this second album. It's different enough from the first one but also carries on the oustanding quality and zest for life that the band embodies.

  • author: debbi & reese evans

    ...great sound!!! i love turning people on to the greencard sound for the 1st time...can't wait for my copy...they just get better...their words and flow of the instriments are magical...just wished they played closer to east coast of nc...

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