JOSH LEDERMAN Y LOS DIABLOS: The Town's Old Fair

Josh Lederman y Los Diablos

The Town's Old Fair

© 2003 2003 Coffee Stain Music (ASCAP) (747728898426)

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Josh Lederman y Los Diablos bring it all home on the new full-length CD The Town's Old Fair. The CD traces Josh and the boys journey through Appalachian towns, across several decades of rootsy musical influences, and through their own personal histories.

notes

Josh Lederman y los Diablos bring it all home on the new full-length CD, "The Town's Old Fair." The CD traces Josh and the boys journey through Appalachian towns, across several decades of rootsy musical influences, and through their own personal histories.

Sprawling over 16 tracks, "The Town's Old Fair" is most reminiscent of the heyday of 70s folk-influenced rock, recalling Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey," Lowell George's "Thanks, I'll Eat it Here," and even Bruce Springsteen's "Darkness on the Edge of Town."

The CD kicks off with the Cajun waltz of the title track cruises through up-tempo rockers, trips over some punk-country, glides through a little folk balladry, and crosses the finish-line with the beautiful, rambling "Listen to That Train Whistle Blow." The 56 minute journey is a complex one, but well worth it. "The songs were clearly influenced by the places we've been over the past year," says Lederman. "When you're touring, you have no choice but to open up to all of these influences; everything is different and exciting, but you still want to be home where it's safe. It's great songwriting material. Besides," he adds jokingly, "I think it's impossible to travel through Virginia and not write a song called 'Virginia.'"

For these reasons, "The Town's Old Fair" is somewhat of a departure from 2001's darker, more cynical "It's a Long and Lonely Time Until the Train Will Bring You Home" (NMR 041). Lederman's narratives are laced with nostalgia, hope and sharp wit. "There are a lot more upbeat themes (on this album," says Lederman. "We spent the bulk of 2002 in bars and clubs honing these songs, (The band played over 100 shows that year), so there's a lot of fun and less angst. People at shows won't let you get away with too much angst."

Now that they've been home for some time, Josh Lederman y Los Diablos plan to hit the road again in 2004, playing up and down the East Coast to support "The Town's Old Fair."

reviews

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  • Flavorful mix of styles !
    author: Laura T Lynch of Kweevak.com

    This sixteen-track collection offers a wide variety of sounds and styles. Variety throughout this collection adds texture and tone to well crafted songs. Josh writes lyrics that unfold like stories and the CD focuses on the bands travels and experiences. Lederman composes lyrics that range from witty, to nostalgic to hopeful. His delivery is sometimes deadpan but works well with the assorted instrumental accents. Josh Lederman Y Los Diablos' music is a unique blend of rock, folk, Irish and Cajun. 'Well The Days Go By' has a catchy up-tempo beat combined with some flashy instrumentation including a solid guitar lead and snappy piano work. Yet shades of gray hang over the song when you listen closely to the visual lyrics reflecting on life and the days going by. 'Palinka' has a middle-eastern, Spanish flavor. It is a well-orchestrated spicy instrumental and demonstrates the diverse talent of the band. Like a traveling carnival The Town's Old Fair has a festive feel but in the shadows lurks something deep dark and sometimes ironic.

  • Interesting mix of Pogues and Dylan with international nuances
    author: Bay Area Reviewer

    This CD is as diverse as are some of the songs by themselves. Palinka begins with a samba beat and soon emerges as a sort of a Middle Eastern melody. Others, such as Listen to that Train Whistle Blow and Daisy have more of the Pogues sound but, with definite Dylanesque lyrics. The CD's nuances has kept it in my car longer than most.

  • refined version of their actual performance
    author: Alan

    Cd is good but needs to be recorded in a live version which would probably be fantastic.

  • Grows on ya!
    author: Bart

    I picked this up with the impression that it was a more cajun/folky Pogues-like CD, and while that was correct, the CD is a bit more diverse than that. It took a few spins for these songs to really grow on me. I've really taken a liking to them now. The lyrics are a highlight, since they are always taking you somewhere interesting. Imagine a less-Irish Pogues, with a vocalist that sounds like that of They Might Be Giants.

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