Watkins Family Hour - Watkins Family Hour

  by Carl Bookstein

published: 12 / 8 / 2015

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'Watkins Family Hour' is the fine, acoustic self-titled folk and bluegrass flavoured debut outing from a talented musical collective that includes Sara Watkins and her brother Sean Watkins, both of Nickel Creek, along with Fiona Apple, Benmont Tench, Don Heffington, Greg Leisz and Sebastian Steinberg. The album was recorded live over three days in the studio, capturing the spirit of the collective’s live shows. The album is all cover tunes, tastefully chosen. The Watkins Family Hour is based in Los Angeles who play monthly shows at the Largo, with plans to take the show on the road. The opener 'Feelin’ Good Again' is an upbeat first rate number, with a down home and easy Sara Watkins vocal- a bit folk, a bit Americana: “My favourite band was playing an Otis Redding song/Everybody sang along”- Resonant singing about good feelings, with stand out fiddle accompaniment. 'Where I Ought to Be' showcases a recognizable lead vocal turn by Fiona Apple with Sara Watkins singing alongside. There is rich and acoustic instrumentation- a bit country, a bit bluegrass here. 'Steal Your Heart Away' is soul-stirring waves of music from the start. The Lindsey Buckingham-penned Fleetwood Mac cover is a brilliant choice for the collective’s talents. A lovely Sara Watkins vocal supplies a beautiful buzz, as this novel bluegrass style treatment washes over the listener - perhaps the absolute highlight of a solid consistent album. Sung by Benmont Tench, keyboardist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Prescription for the Blues' is a boogie-woogie tinged blues tune. Next with a lead vocal by Sean Watkins, 'Going Going Gone' represents a solid treatment of a Bob Dylan-penned number from his album 'Planet Waves'. With heartfelt fiddle playing resounding, 'Hop High' is a traditional, well- played by this skilled collective. Another highlight is a lovely treatment of the evocative Gordon Lightfoot classic 'Early Morning Rain' including another soothing Sara Watkins vocal: “You can’t jump a big jet plane/Like you can an old freight train.” The sweet resonant acoustic Grateful Dead classic closer 'Brokedown Palace' takes the listener home: “Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul”- a comforting ending to a well-rendered set.

Track Listing:-

1 Feelin' Good Again
2 Where I Ought To Be
3 Not In Nottingham
4 Steal Your Heart Away
5 Prescription for the Blues
6 Going Going Gone
7 Hop High
8 She Thinks I Still Care
9 The King of the 12 Oz. Bottles
10 Early Morning Rain
11 Brokedown Palace

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/watkinsfamilyhour
http://watkinsfamilyhour.com/
https://twitter.com/watkinsfamhour

Label Links:-

http://www.thirtytigers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thirtytigers
https://twitter.com/thirtytigers
https://instagram.com/thirtytigers/
http://thirtytigers.tumblr.com/

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