Polecat Creek
Leaving Eden
© 2004 Polecat Creek (822809000193)
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Original roots country music. These two women can SING, and their harmonies will knock you out. Their latter-day southern songwriting puts new songs in an old light. With Riley Baugus on the clawhammer banjo.
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Up TO #6 ON THE ROOTS MUSIC REPORT BLUEGRASS LIST, #42 ON THE ROOTS 100 LIST!!!! KBCS Bellvue, WA: "DJs Top Picks for 2004"...GoTriad's "Top 20 of 2004"...KUSP Santa Cruz, CA "Top 10 Roots Chart"
New Review in Performing Songwriter Magazine March/April 2005, by Mare Wakefield.
"Warning: Polecat Creek's Leaving Eden may get stuck in your CD player. There's nothing wrong with the CD, but you may not be able to hit eject until you've danced around the house a few times, singing along with every lyric.
Polecat Creek features the combined songwriting and vocal talents of Laurelyn Dossett and Kari Sickenberger, along with Riley Baugus on banjo and fiddle. The trio recently released their second album, and bluegrass and Americana fans would do well to take notice.
"You'd rather be right than be in love," sings Laurelyn on "Rather Be Right." The bluegrass-flavored "Unforgiver" conjures up a ghost town complete with tumbleweeds, and the old-timey waltz of "Come Dance" transports you to an Appalachian dance hall.
While solid melodies and vocal harmonies may be the first thing you notice, the pictures painted in Polecat Creek's lyrics will keep you coming back for more.
Review from No Depression January/February 2005
by Paul E. Comeau
"Polecat Creek features Laurelyn Dossett and Kari Sickenberger, two singer-songwriters from North Carolina who have pooled their talents, ostensibly because their wonderful harmonies bring out more in their songs than each of their own individual voices could. Although the women straddle the fence between bluegrass and old-time (leaning more toward the later), there are also occasional echoes of Cajun music, honky-tonk, and blues.
Their second album was recorded in Louisiana with Dirk Powell producing and Riley Baugus as the main accompanist (mostly on banjo and fiddle). Kevin Wimmer (fiddle), Terry Huval (lap steel and resophonic guitar), Mike Burch (drums), and Powell (a multi-instrumentalist) make up the rest of the backing crew.
The songs, written individually by either Dossett or Sickenberger, are memorable and lyrically sophisticated. "Mama" has nothing in common with the sappy tributes to motherhood that are prevalent in some country music circles. "The Past Ain't Over Yet," the story of a prisoner who is haunted by a murder committed while under the influence, is a jaunty blues that includes some classic lines: "Now I can't look ahead and I can't forget/My future's behind me and the past ain't over yet." The title track is a touching song about the collapse of a small-town industry and the inhabitant's struggle to survive.
Strong vocals, tight harmonies, compelling arrangements, and impeccable musicianship all help to bring out the best in the duo's songs."
Review from Freighttrainboogie.com!
POLECAT CREEK Leaving Eden... (Yodel-Ay-Hee)
"Well first off, the sexy cover: vintage skirts and cowboy boots against a 50's-style tile floor, caught my attention right off the bat. (I know, what's sexy for some people... ) One pair of legs belongs to Laurelyn Dossett and the other to Kara Sickenberger. They hail from North Carolina but headed down to the Louisiana bayou with producer Dirk Powell. Both women are intelligent songwriters and gorgeous singers, and seamlessly support each other with tight harmonies. In fact, I can't tell Kari's songs from Laurelyn's unless I look at the credits, their voices and songs are that equally strong and complementary. The music is mostly old timey flavored, thanks largely to the amazing clawhammer banjo of Riley Baugus. But there's also a little Cajun and even a delightful dash of classic honky tonk on a few of the songs. The songwriting deals with contemporary relationship matters, aching hearts, unrealized dreams and stubborn men. This is wonderful stuff that goes beyond the usual old timey and singer- songwriter boundries. I remember the chills I had when I first heard Gillian Welch's music, I get that same feeling here, times two." Released September, '04, reviewed by Bill Frater
reviews
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Leaving Eden
author: David RodgersWhat a beautiful album, the songwriting is excellent the playing especially Riley Baugus tremendous. In the absence of anything new from Gillian Welch this more than makes up for the gap. I recommend this to everyone as it has something for everyone, sad songs, happy songs, slow songs, quick songs. Buy it NOW!
Excellent
author: Panhead1952Just great in every way. Excellent music. Highly recommended!
one of the best CDs in a long time
author: JohnI bought this CD after I heard “Tomboy” on internet radio and loved it. It is still my favorite, because the clawhammer banjo fits perfectly with the wonderful lyrics, as it also does on the unsentimental but touching “Mama.” “Come by Here” and “As the Crow Flies” are inspirational, and “The Past Ain’t Over Yet” deserves to be a country classic. The Cajun-influenced “Come Dance” and acapella “That I Should Know Your Face,” and the poetry of all the lyrics confirm the versatility and brilliance of Polecat Creek.
From a happy new fan
author: MichaelWhen was the last time you heard a song on the radio and just HAD to get a copy of record? That happened to me, and i'm glad i bought this disc. "Leaving Eden" is one of the most moving songs i have heard in a very long time.