Boxcars - Crossing
by Andrew Carver
published: 17 / 12 / 2001
Label:
Palace Flophouse
Format: CD
intro
Boxcars is a five-member roots rock group from Philadelphia, a very good one. In fact, the group sticks so closely to the roots rock template that may be all the description you can apply: No excursi
Boxcars is a five-member roots rock group from Philadelphia, a very good one. In fact, the group sticks so closely to the roots rock template that may be all the description you can apply: No excursions into psychedelia like Wilco or pop like the Pernice Brothers; the 11 tales of lament on 'Crossings' don’t even have a pedal steel or violin. Its only real distinguishing characteristic is the great piano and organ playing of Amber Laurentis. The vocals are good; after several listenings I can’t decide if the three bandmembers who have writing credits (lead guitarist Matt McGrath, rhythm guitarist Dan Roberts and bassist Dan Edelman) each handle the lead vocals on their own tunes, or if it’s just one of them with good range. The group makes frequent use of pleasant background harmonies. There’s enough lyrical invention to keep things interesting, though the themes are classic ones; it seems someone is either left behind, leaving, or being told to get out of town — or else. Only an Americana neophyte will find anything new on 'Crossings', and its meat-and-potatoes quality may turn off fans of the more exploratory players in the field, but fans of Steve Earle and the V-Roys will find it right up their alley — beg pardon, I mean their dirt road. At this crossing, The Boxcars decided to hell with left or right, and just went straight on ahead.
Track Listing:-
1 Gone To Fall2 Half Parted
3 She's Losing Ground
4 Bootstraps
5 Roll Me
6 Before You Leave
7 All Torn Apart
8 Strong Waters
9 N Broad
10 Police Song
11 The Ballad of Buffalo Creek
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadKula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart