There'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 base movies on.
Of course, every grand roadtrip needs theme music. It's funny how music is often a stronger reminder of a location or place than a picture can be. I've seen pictures of the California coast, but they don't really compare to the images conjured up by the Beach Boys or The Ventures. Same goes for the Appalachians, or the swamps... or Seattle.
So... we need travelling music and Havalina Rail Co. has released an album full of it. Essentially a musical journey across America, America is a meandering journey, starting off in California, going through the desert and into the deep South, snaking northwards in New York, then heading west in a full circle. Along the way, Havalina plays every "American" genre of music, whether it be bluegrass, delta blues, country, surf, or even hip-hop, without ever sounding contrived or forced. The scary thing is how natural and at home the band sounds, regardless of what style they happen to be playing.
There's the Morricone-esque "Dark Skies," the southern "Mississippi River," and "Flower of the Desert" (which uses every country music cliché and then some). There's even the short but ultra-funky "United State(s)" with its turntable and organ action.
Although it lacks some of the spiritual and emotional release of Havalina's previous album Russian Lullabies, and drags a little bit in the middle of its 70 minutes, America is a lot of fun to listen to. There's a very open, relaxed mood throughout the album, as if the gang wouldn't mind if you sat in with the whiskey jug or washboard for a song or two.
Some might classify this as folk music, which is probably closer to the truth than Havalina's label as a "swing" band. (Havalina transcended that genre's inherent shallowness ages ago.) Havalina's music is "American" music (npi), whether it be deep Louisiana swamp blues, California pop, or New York hip-hop. Their music suggests a grand musical road trip that, as meandering as it may sometimes be, always promises a surprise around the next bend.
Other coverage for this album
7ball #27Reviewed by J. Edward KeyesWhile 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…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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