CD REVIEW Bow Thayer: At his intimate best
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Toolbox
By ART EDELSTEIN Arts Correspondent - Published: November 13, 2009
Rochester-based Bow Thayer has released one of the best CDs I've heard this year. "Shooting Arrows at the Moon" is all acoustic, low-key, informal and laced with excellent songs and fine picking. With Thayer writing all 14 tracks, singing and playing guitar, banjo and uke, we have his best work to date.
That said, a lot of the credit for the success of this album goes to its producer/engineer/backup singer and multi-instrumentalist Kristina Stykos.
Thayer's own words make it clear why this CD is so good. As he writes in an introduction to the album on his Web site (www.bowthayer.com), "I can honestly say this project just happened out of the blue here in Vermont at my friend Kristina Stykos' Pepperbox Studio.
"What excites me about this record is the spontaneous informality of it all. There was no real intention or pressure to produce an album so what we have is some music that had been written then abandoned and songs that were recorded in their infancy."
This is how recordings should be made. As too many musicians learn from sad experience, when the pressure is on, when studio time is expensive, and they are perhaps reaching beyond their comfort level, the result may not be quite what they or their audience expect.
Thayer's previous albums reviewed here, "Driftwood Periodicals, Volume I" and "Spend It All," were studio affairs with a full band. I thought Thayer's material had promise but was lost in the clash of guitars, drums and overproduction. His new album shows that, taken down a notch or two and given a relaxed atmosphere to record in, his promise and expertise shine through. His songwriting here is mature while his guitar and banjo work carry a strong pulse. And his singing is emotive.
I'm reminded of the 1970s recordings by Bob Dylan and also early John Prine on several tracks. Thayer writes good story songs. Especially effective are "The Tango Rose," "Suicide Kings," "Carla Dupree," "Allston Brighton" and "Way of The Gun."
He builds characters that are believable and story lines that any novelist would appreciate. While not a crooner, Thayer's gritty vocals are effective.
The music on this album has overtones of contemporary folk, acoustic country and neo-bluegrass. It's an ear-friendly sound as well, owing to the lack of electric instruments and percussion.
Stykos has captured Thayer's guitar and banjo perfectly maintaining the authentic sound of these acoustic instruments. Her own contribution includes harmony singing and guitar, mandolin and bouzouki accompaniment. Her vocals work well to support Thayer, as she is an alto. Her singing doesn't outshine Thayer's voice.
Violinist Patrick Ross joins Thayer and Stykos but on just eight of the 14 tracks. I would have liked to hear more of this fine musician. This is not fiddling, rather, it's atmospheric violin, and I'm reminded of the work Scarlet Rivera did on an earlier Bob Dylan album.
With just a few instruments to work with and two voices plus some excellent songs, Thayer, with Stykos and Ross' help, has produced his most thoughtful and mature work yet.
While Thayer works primarily with his band Perfect Trainwreck, I hope he'll do more solos and feature the songs on "Shooting Arrows at the Moon." This is the album that will advance his career beyond the barroom dance floor.