While some bands are content to languish within familiar constraints until they collapse under their own weight, Havalina Rail Co. rebuilds themselves from scratch with each release. On America, the band's fourth record, the wagons head West, mining early American music for inspiration.
The California sextet sounds a good deal more relaxed than they did on the chilly Russian Lullabies. Where that release pondered weighty existential matters amidst angular arrangements and gravelly vocals, America settles for simple campfire storytelling. The bulk of the compositions are paeans to the land itself ("Mississippi River," "American Skies," "Let's Not Forget Hawaii"), personifying the countryside in the grand tradition of the early pioneers. Though it purports to reflect the music of the entire country, America is hayseed territory, a kitschy patchwork of the Steinbeckian West done up with fiddles and banjos. Save for a track which allegorically likens a bullfrog to the Nazarene (not one of the album's finer moments), Boris comes from across the sea/ brings his milk to you & me/ with farm fresh goodness & a pinch of love is about as philosophical as America gets.
Lead Railroader Matt Wignall betrays a fondness for folkies like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, his yawning vocals stretching around such wry phrases as I never killed for pleasure/ I never killed for fun/ but when they take a man's family, it's time to get the gun. Possessing a voice bereft of tonality, Wignall's sandpaper pipes take some getting used to, and the lack of dynamic range hampers a handful of otherwise flawless compositions.
Despite their frequent musical redirection, Havalina Rail Company is a solid ensemble, and they prove their mettle through some rather intricate arrangements. Percussion simmers and pops throughout each track, buttressed by furious guitar plucking and Orlando Greenhill's frequently underrated avant bass work. When the band lets things fly fast and furious, as they do on the Stephen Foster nod "Flower of the Desert," they are at the top of their game.
At 24 tracks, America sports its share of clunkers, chief among them a meandering hip-hop track and a groaner of an ode to Hawaii; the band would do well to work with an outside producer who could curb some of their more ambitious fancies. Though their reach often exceeds their grasp, at least Havalina Rail Company is still willing, in this age of musical stagnation, to extend their arm and grab with gusto.
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2000Reviewed by Jason MoreheadThere's an inherent desire in people to travel. Maybe it's to see if the grass is greener on the other side, or just to pick up crappy little souvenirs to give your friends. Whatever drives it, it's there. For example, just the other day, my friend and I were talking about driving across America on the great Interstate 80, visiting small towns and getting into the sort of crazy adventures they…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by ConradInteresting retro country rock. This album was highly enjoyable to listen to. It's like listening to a road trip. The singing and lyrics kept you attuned to every word he sang. I would say about a third of it was upbeat enough for me to listen to a few times. The slower stuff, while very good, is just not my cup of tea. If you don't mind slower songs, these songs will still interest you. In all,…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by Tom BastianThis band is definitely creative. They have been around for quite a while, but I have never really gotten into them too much. I have heard most of their releases but nothing they have put out so far has really done much for me. As far as this release goes, I definitely think this is their best effort yet, and what a great concept. They pretty much give the listener a musical tour of America, yet…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by TimWell, these guys are creative. It's rock 'n roll that sounds like it should have been played some 40 years ago. The melodies aren't that catchy, and the guitar is very basic traditional stuff....but overall, it makes for great mix of old rock 'n roll, with influences from the late 90s. C+Decapolis 1999Reviewed by Matt R.Continuing with their thematic album approach, Havalina this time takes the listener on a tour of the land of the free and the home of the brave. Anyone who has traveled the country or read such books as John Steinbeck's "Travels With Charley" or Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" can appreciate the adventure and the diversity of this record. Musically the record is a departure from their last, as each…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Israel KlossWith their latest release, America, Havalina Rail Company presents the listener with a veritable cornucopia of traditional and original American musical styles. This 24-song concept album begins in the typical unique and quirky style that has endeared Havalina to their equally quirky fan-base for years. They are one of the longest lasting fringe bands in Christian music today. America runs the…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinMove over, Charles Kuralt. Havalina Rail Co. have embarked on a wild road trip exploring the highways and byways of traditional American musical forms. Despite some canceled tours in the past, the band in fact, travel and play a lot and they've drawn on their cross-country experiences to create something both rooted in tradition yet utterly unique to their signature sound. It's clear the band are…Similar sounding releases
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