PossumHaw's 'Madtom' a good bluegrass beginning
CD Review
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Toolbox
By Art Edelstein Arts Correspondent - Published: November 9, 2007
"Madtom" is the second CD from the Burlington-based neo-bluegrass band PossumHaw. The band's lead singer Colby Crehan has one of the better voices in bluegrass/old-time music circles. Her delivery favors the rough-cut and is unfettered by studio gimmickry. Her voice is so up-front in the mix she seems to be sitting right in front of the speakers, a nice touch. There's also a slight edge and a bit of mountain twang to her voice. In all, this gives her singing the authenticity so often missing from traditional American music wannabees.
Ryan Crehan on banjo and vocals is a decent instrumentalist and his three-finger banjo rolls impart the proper bluegrass groove to these songs. Charley Eiseman on guitar and vocals and Matt Kolan on mandolin and vocals round out this quartet.
On "Madtom" we have a dozen self-penned songs mostly by Colby Crehan. She writes pleasant tunes about home and hearth, kith and kin. Her delivery is direct, and the lyrics are about subjects Vermonters can relate to.
There's a nod to the roots of this genre in A.P. Carter's "My Native Home." Here the band puts its instruments down and we have a fine four-part, neo-gospel song with a touch of jazz harmony. More songs in this mode would have been welcomed.
There is in this CD the makings of a fine traditionalist album. What's missing is threefold. PossumHaw needs a bass player. There's not much "bottom" to this album. Also I'd like to hear lead guitarist Eiseman take his direction more from Bryan Sutton or Tony Rice than from Jerry Garcia. The band might also ask mandolinist Kolan to step up to the mike more and deliver lead lines. His part seems mostly as a rhythm player. Overall, this band needs more melodic instrumental parts.
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