The Greencards reviewed
The Greencards
Viridian
(Dualtone)
Tip-toeing around a traditional genre, The Greencards keep subtlely updating bluegrass with Viridian, their third album.
Appearing: May 5th at Schubas in Chicago.
Technically, Greencards run afoul of the rules of bluegrass more often than not, and Viridian actually finds the band wandering into territory inhabited by Hem and Ida. None of the members is American, instrumental showmanship is hardly present, and, well, there’s a supressed but certainly present drum beat. Yet the spirit of Bill Monroe flows through this album like wind through the trees, giving this largely acoustic-country album a homespun feel. A good deal of this is due to Australian singer Carol Young, whose every exhale gives songs like “All The Way From Italy” a comfortable weight. Kym Warner and Eamon McLoughlin are no slouches themselves, but Young owns this album.
— Kevin Keegan
