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By Grant T. Michalski Entertainment Staff |
Guide to Star Ratings |
: Get a helping of this Salmon with a side of Euphoria, Leftover Salmon's third release and debut on Hollywood Records' Mountain Division.
If you, like me, follow the whole jam-band scene, you've no doubt heard of Leftover Salmon, a bluegrass-rock quintet from Boulder Colorado. Well, until I picked up this CD, I had never listened to any of their music I had just heard good reviews of their concerts. After hearing the CD, I can see why people rave about them
The group, whose self-described style is "polyethnic cajun slamgrass," formed back in 1990 when members of the Left Hand String Band filled in for members of The Salmon Heads at a concert. The combined band, calling themselves "Leftover Salmon" played the gig and, in 1992, settled on it's current configuration.
Euphoria is Leftover Salmon's third album, and debut release on Hollywood Records' Mountain Division label. Euphoria is named after a song the last track on the CD) played by The Holy Modal Rounders, a band in which the father of Leftover Salmon bassist Tye North was drummer. Other Leftover Salmon releases include Bridges to Bert (1993) and Ask the Fish (1995).
Euphoria is an excellent album. It's eleven tracks of pure genuine music, untainted by commercialism and overproduction. It's overall simple sound with moments of concentrated skill reflects the genius of the band; just because you can play circles around ninety-five percent of the bands of today, doesn't mean you have to do so at every moment.
Euphoria's style ranges from pure bluegrass to blues to Ska. The CDs opening track, "Better," sounds like it came off a Sublime album while the fourth track, "River's Rising," reminds me of a Harry Chapin song (just with a good bit more energy). Leftover Salmon is a melting pot of several different musical styles, and the end-product is a stew that's bound to satisfy anyone.
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