Blood Oranges In The Snow
Artist: Over The Rhine
Label: Great Speckled
Dog
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Duration: 9 tracks, 37:46
The long awaited second release from the 2012/2013 fan
sponsored two album drive has finally arrived. And, like Over The Rhine’s
previous two Christmas-based albums, there is a dark honesty in the lyrics and
melody. Much like their recent albums, OTR continues to journey further and
further into a country-blues sound.
The album’s namesake, “Blood Oranges In The Snow” is the
most upbeat and OTR-classic sounding of the nine offerings with Karin Bergquist’s sultry vocals leading the
message. “Another Christmas” has Linford Detweiler on
lead vocals with a melancholic sound better suited to a Tim Burton
soundtrack. Detweiler again takes the lead vocals with some success in “My
Father’s Body”, the dark story of Christmas and a long lost broken father / son
relationship. “If We Make It Through December” again shows the sorrowful side
of Christmas for so many who encounter economic and other woes.
“Let It Fall” is a piano lead story of letting go with
Bergquist’s vocals leading the story with well mixed harmony in the refrain. A
slightly comedic moment follows with “Snowbirds” telling of those wishing to
celebrate the holidays in equatorial bliss with those they love. This song
shines with great vocals and slide, well-written lyrics matching well-written
melody and a terrific rhythm section. On the other side of this moment is “Bethlehem”
with a very sorrowful tone. Fine guitar picking matches the fast and tight
light lyrics of “First Snowfall”. Finally,
“New Year’s Song” showcases the fine writing of Detweiler
against the smooth and sensual vocals of Bergquist with a slight return to a
Christmas classic buoyed by strings in the songs interlude to climax – the
heart of OTR.
Over The Rhine’s dark but truthful lyrics of winter’s big
holiday strike a very different chord than the oft-times artificial songs of
the season. This is the good point of Blood Oranges In The Snow. The downside
is their continued walk down the country-blues path and dark lyrical stories.
With this said, OTR continues to have a unique sound, great musicianship, and
an ever-growing fan base.
Scott S Mertens
3 ½ tocks
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