Among the Oak amp Ash - Among the Oak Ash +Album Reviews

Wonderful album from two great musicians

Beelim | Madison, WI | 06/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful, haunting and well executed. Garrison Starr is truly a treasure as a solo artist and is equally wonderful here with Josh Joplin. They handled the traditional material with respect and admiration while making their own mark on each song and created original new classics of their own. Rock on."

Early Americana Brought to Alternative Life

Rocky Raccoon | Boise, ID | 06/22/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you told me a set of early American historical ballads could fit into an alternative, folk, and bluegrass set, the cynic in me would have dismissed the premise as mission impossible with the suspicion that keeping the tales fluid and interesting would be a waste of time.

Besides the obvious immediate appeal of the jingle-jangley "Joseph Hillstram" and the propulsion of the morbidly interesting "Bigmouth Strikes Again," Oak and Ash have much of the pioneer country covered with pleasing spirituals (like "Angel Gabriel") and countrified songs (such as "Shady Grove"). Most of the numbers are folk tales, and some of the mix may be sleepy hollow to some ears, but even the minor selections are pleasant and listenable nonetheless.

Borrowing from old standards, adding a few originals (penned by Josh Joplin, the male half of this singing duo), folklore, old newspaper stories, and even an old shoebox letter romance are brought in a convincing and engaging fashion.

Just when you thought that educational musical C.D.'s were (or are) limited to the primary grades, then Oak and Ash has news for you. And most of it is The Good News.

After listening to this set, you have any doubts about the singers' heartfelt inspiration, then you might have missed Harrison Starr's voice falter on the gentle acoustic "The Water Is Wide". After over a year of listening to this diamond in the rough, Oak and Ash have made believers out of me."

Would serve as a great soundtrack to a movie

Seth R | MA | 10/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Now normally I steer completely clear of anything that is labeled country, and I've read there are some country elements to Among the Oak & Ash. Needless to say I was at first hesitant to check this out, but I've been appreciating folk music recently (do Flight of the Conchords count? Folk parody must count) and I banked on Garrison Starr's hipster looks to ensure this wasn't going to be too country. Well, I'm pleased with this duo of Starr and Josh Joplin.

So I guess all the songs are covers (if you will) of old, traditional folk songs. Starr and Joplin give it their own alternative take and it's not bad. It's more folk than anything I suppose. I'm not familiar enough with this genre to give the music a proper label. Instrumentally this album is pretty bare and simple - a couple instruments, some light percussion, nothing too wild. Heck, "Pretty Saro" is just Joplin singing by himself. Here and there a harmonica is featured, which I find to be cool. And it's not even an instrument I'd say I like! Some songs are catchy and some are frankly forgettable, but overall a good collection.

I think this would serve as a great soundtrack to a movie, perhaps a dramatic adventure like Into the Wild which had a soundtrack similar in style. I highly recommend checking out both the movie and the soundtrack."

I'm not a big fan of this kind of music...

John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 02/14/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"but this really grew on me and now I really like it. I've never heard the original folk versions of these songs. Josh Joplin and Garrison Starr sound great together, especially on "The Housewife's Lament" and "Joseph Hillstrom 1879-1915". They mix the vibe of these songs well. "Peggy O" sounds like alternative country, "Shady Grove" has a cool bluegrass feel, and "All the Pretty Little Horses" is done more traditional country. The original songs, "Joseph Hillstrom 1879-1915" and "High, Low, & Wide", are just as good as the folk cover songs. I don't like the closing cover of the Smiths' "Bigmouth Strikes Again". All told, all of the songs here are good, performed with a mostly laid back vibe and it's worth checking out if you like alternative country music."

Upbeat and Uplifting Folk Album

Erik J. Malvick | Davis, CA | 11/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album has an upbeat, uplifting, almost spiritual quality that works quite well. I am not usually a fan of albums that take on a spiritual vibe, but there is a quality here that isn't unlike what Sufjan Stevens has put out before. The tempo and style of the album remind me of Sufjan Steven's Illinois album while the lyrical quality isn't unlike Sufjan's Seven Swans album.

All the songs have a strong folk vibe in terms of lyrics, but the tempo can make you forget this is a folk album. A song like Peggy O is reminds me of any pop song out there although the lyrics are anything but and really make it exceed. In fact, it is the folk nature of this album on the whole that really lift it above pop albums with quality that is all but absent in mainstream music these days. The song Joseph Hillstrom 1879-1915 would be the stereotypical folk song, but the music makes one forget that. As a result, the album is the perfect way for someone who isn't necessarily a fan of folk music to reach into that realm. However, it is a great folk album from any point of view as the stories told have great quality that is worth checking out.

I hope this is a band that succeeds, and I hope the quality of albums like this are part of a revival of folk music. It is an under-rated genre, and this album shows it."

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	Among the Oak & Ash Among the Oak & Ash Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop
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