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Whiskeytown | Pneunomia

CD, Lost Highway/Universal

Tekst: Doug Waterman

Publicatiedatum: 28 mei 2001

Recorded over two years ago in Woodstock, New York's Dreamland Studio, Whiskeytown's 'Pneumonia' was slated as a successful follow-up to their acclaimed major label debut, 'Stranger's Almanac' (1997). However, the Universal/Polygram merger forced the closure of Whiskeytown's label, Outpost Recordings, leaving the band high and dry and wondering if the album would ever see the light of day. Since the recording of 'Pneumonia', the band has officially broken up, and each member of the trio is pursuing promising solo careers. Frontman Ryan Adams released 'Heartbreaker' on the alt.country-oriented Bloodshot Records in the summer of 2000, and fiddler/vocalist Caitlin Cary released a five-song EP entitled 'Walzie' on Chapel Hill's Yep Roc Records. Guitarist Mike Daly is currently shopping his just-finished solo album around to record labels. Fortunately for Whiskeytown, Lost Highway Records was founded at just the right time. Spearheaded by Mercury Nashville President Luke Lewis and the band's former manager, Frank Callari, this Mercury imprint label (based in Nashville) agreed to put out 'Pneumonia' as its first release. Aside from Whiskeytown, Lost Highway has also signed established singer/songwriters such as Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, and Ryan Adams. Adams and producer Ethan Johns re-mixed and put finishing touches on 'Pneumonia' in the spring, setting the release date for May 22. Accompanying the band on the album include Backsliders guitarist Brad Rice, former Replacement Tommy Stinson, ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, and Ethan Johns on drums. 'Pneumonia' is somewhat of a departure from Whiskeytown's first two releases, which are characterized primarily by elements of the broadly interpreted alt.country genre. Though the fiddle and pedal steel are still prevalent on many of the tracks, the album transmits more of a pop sound than their previous releases. Nonetheless, 'Pneumonia' is clear evidence of the band's lyrical and musical maturing process. The album contains a collection of intriguing pop/rock tunes, as well as a number of well-crafted experimental pieces. 'Pneumonia''s first track, 'Ballad of Carol Lynn', is flooded by Adams' raspier vocal tendencies, as well as an eerily brooding horn section. 'Don't Wanna Know Why' is a catchy pop song that emphasizes both Caitlin Cary's prolific fiddling ability and her distinct harmonization. 'Jacksonville Skyline' and 'My Hometown' both give accounts of Adams' reminiscent predisposition toward his hometown of Jacksonville, North Carolina (from his perspective, while living in New York City). These two songs seem to be the simplest, yet easily the most convincing songs on 'Pneumonia', combining steady acoustic progressions and free-flowing pedal steel echoes with Adams' honest, country-tinged vocals. The seventh track, 'Under Your Breath', identifies closely with the slow, solemn lyrical emphasis of Ryan Adams' 'Heartbreaker' album. 'Mirror, Mirror' seems extremely influenced by the Beatles' instrumentation during the mid-60s. 'Paper Moon' experiments with a creative island flavour, and 'What the Devil Wanted', which Adams wrote about a recurring dream, is shaded with a disoriented, psychedelic aura. Closing out the album, 'Bar Lights' returns to the compelling, melodic harmonization between Adams and Cary that penetrated 'Stranger's Almanac'. On the whole, 'Pneumonia' is a very commendable final album from an undeniably influential band of the 90s, and it furthermore sets a promising tone for the future solo careers of Whiskeytown's band members.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/whiskeytown/pneunomia/292/
Meer Whiskeytown op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/whiskeytown