Terra Firma Cary NC

Terra Firma

Acoustic Syndicate

Sugar Hill Records, 2003

REVIEW BY: Duke Egbert

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/02/2003

Acoustic Syndicate is living proof that you can't makeassumptions based on liner notes. On the surface, it's easy topigeonhole this band; they're on Sugar Hill Records, they have alead banjo player, must be newgrass or bluegrass, right? Wrongo,buddy. Acoustic Syndicate is a mixed-breed bastard of a band,likely to cut back and forth without warning from roots music topop grooves that put you in mind of the best of Dave Matthews orBlues Traveler. Terra Firma, their newest release, is a tight and tasty bitof genuine musical novelty, a band of real rural musicians whobetween recording suggestions and tour dates put up canned goodsand hold family hoedowns (three of the four band members arecousins). Add to this bucolic intermixture some real talent, andthis is a band and a CD to cherish.

The musicianship is impeccable. The first and strongest note isthat of lead vocalist Steve "Big Daddy" McMurry, whose soaring,powerful vocals put one in mind of a gospel-tinged GordonLightfoot. Weave into that some of the best harmonies I've heard ina very long time and what you have is nothing short of magic. Ofcourse, once you get past that, there's another delight to discoverin the banjo of Bryon McMurry. The band's official bio says itbest; Bryon plays banjo like a guitar player, and evokes soundsthat some traditional musicians would be hard-pressed toback-engineer, much less reproduce. The bass and percussion aresolid and well-mixed; there's no complaints to be had at all in thealbum's sound.

There's only one hurdle left, the songs… and they're puregold. The arching, aching harmonies of "The Ballad of Marie StLaurette," the tongue-in-cheek social commentary of "Vanity," thebright, intense "Commentary," the brooding "One Way"…twelvetracks and twelve hits. There are no misses here, no weak spots; Terra Firma is magnificent. Add in some surprises like thesoprano saxophone on "Fleeting Moments," and the package iscomplete.

This is a strong contender to show up on this year's Top Tenlist. Don't miss it.