April
Regional, 2026
9/10
Originally released on cassette in 1989, this debut from The Riflebirds Of Portland lives again and showcases the band’s humble roots and emotional capacity for folk spirited melodies.
“Pieces Of Time” opens the listen with Kate Oser’s flowing and expressive voice that suits Kevin Kraft’s pretty guitar and guest Phil Parlapiano’s well timed accordion, and “Memory Street” follows with Lee Oser’s skilled bass amid Jerry Donahue’s thick guitar playing in a moody climate.
Landing in the middle, “Michael” benefits from Greg Leisz’s emotive pedal steel and Michael Danner’s sophisticated piano that complement the powerful singing, while “The Rain” recruits Marvin Etzioni’s mandolin and Skip Parente’s fiddle for the poetic and heartfelt delivery.
Getting closer to the end, the animated and jangly “And Your Bird Can Sing” is a bright and melodic roots rocker that’s so well executed it should have made the band a household name, and “Might As Well Stay” exits with Kevin Jarvis’ frisky drums amid the soulful soft rock nods.
The album sure sounds great 36 years later, and it seems like Kraft, the Oser’s and Jarvis definitely were ahead of their time but dissolved before they could be globally appreciated. Thankfully, they’re back together, and revisiting this first album is a must for anyone interested in ‘80s folk-rockesque sounds.
Travels well with: The Far West- Everything We Thought We Wanted; KP Hawthorn- Til The Glitter End