Don’t You Marry No Railroad Man
Free Dirt, 2021
9/10
Listen to Don’t You Marry No Railroad Man
An actual carpenter who also makes his instruments, the banjo wizard JP Harris interprets traditional songs here with Chance McCoy (ex-Old Crow Medicine Show), who lends a hand on fiddle and backing vocals across the intimate and rootsy affair.
“House Carpenter” starts the listen with fascinating, plucked banjo alongside moody fiddle, as Harris’ warm, expressive singing draws the listener in to the haunting folk song, and this creativity continues to the swift, rural flavor of the lively “Closer To The Mill (Going To California)”, which could soundtrack a party at the barn.
Moving along, “Country Blues” brings both of those ideas to the quick banjo acrobatics and vivid storytelling, while “Last Chance” offers a brief instrumental where Harris displays incredible banjo playing. “The Little Carpenter”, one of the album’s best, then pairs soft instrumentation alongside an almost gospel like delivery that drones with an alluring quality.
The final two tracks are among the best, and include the quick, upbeat “Otto Wood”, where vocal harmonies and a much brighter tone balance out the other, often bleak selections, and “Wild Bill Jones” exits the listen with chunky banjo illuminating the murder ballad.
Recorded in the mountains of West Virginia in a studio the two had to finish by digging trenches and repairing the roof, this is about as authentic as it comes. Seeing as how some of these songs go back to the 17th century, for most of us, this is our first time hearing them, and I’ll tell you what, Harris and McCoy are the perfect mediums for it, as a shift from Harris’ previous honky tonk ways makes for a gothic Americana experience that few others could replicate.
Travels well with: Will Stewart- County Seat; Justin Wells- The United State