Hensley Sturgis - Cabin Feverc
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Hensley Sturgis is a Columbus, Ohio band featuring Barry Hensley and Jason Sturgis, formed in the fall of 1998, after the demise of Barry’s previous project Big Back Forty.
»Cabin Fever«, the second CD by Hensley Sturgis features 13 tracks with smoky harmonies on top of crunching guitars, punctuated by rock solid rhythms, »Cabin Fever« can blow like a blizzard („Ledge“; „Abandon“) or be as contemplative as a warm spring breeze („I'd say I'm Sorry“; „Sherlock“).
The songs - reflections on the nature of relationships, longing, betrayal, and mortality - successfully avoid the usual clichés to offer fresh and often unexpected perspectives. Barry Hensley and Jason Sturgis approach most of the song writing on »Cabin Fever« individually with 6 songs each (and one collaboration, „Hazelwoody Haze“). The result is a collection of songs that are diverse yet cohesive. Their strong debut release Open Lanes showcased this diversity and Cabin Fever takes it even further. The fact that Hensley Sturgis is now a complete band with the addition of bassist Trent Arnold (former Lilybandits & Deadringers) and drummer Pat McGann (former Big Back Forty) strengthens the feeling of cohesiveness that runs throughout the record. The band recorded over half of »Cabin Fever« at home this time around, and the result is a more relaxed and intimate feel to many of the tracks. The addition of instruments like pedal steel, organ, accordion, dulcimer, autoharp, as well as nice percussion touches, add interesting textures to the songs and complete the sonic landscape. Let's hope the Hensley Sturgis boys get snowed in again this winter.
„Big Back Forty’s lone disc on A&M Records a few years ago was a stone Americana country/rock classic. The survivors still deliver the goods with “Cabin Fever”, a fine collection of songs that examines the foibles and trials of everyday life. Very well done.“ (MOJO)
Hensley Sturgis is a Columbus, Ohio band featuring Barry Hensley and Jason Sturgis, formed in the fall of 1998, after the demise of Barry’s previous project Big Back Forty.
»Cabin Fever«, the second CD by Hensley Sturgis features 13 tracks with smoky harmonies on top of crunching guitars, punctuated by rock solid rhythms, »Cabin Fever« can blow like a blizzard („Ledge“; „Abandon“) or be as contemplative as a warm spring breeze („I'd say I'm Sorry“; „Sherlock“).
The songs - reflections on the nature of relationships, longing, betrayal, and mortality - successfully avoid the usual clichés to offer fresh and often unexpected perspectives. Barry Hensley and Jason Sturgis approach most of the song writing on »Cabin Fever« individually with 6 songs each (and one collaboration, „Hazelwoody Haze“). The result is a collection of songs that are diverse yet cohesive. Their strong debut release Open Lanes showcased this diversity and Cabin Fever takes it even further. The fact that Hensley Sturgis is now a complete band with the addition of bassist Trent Arnold (former Lilybandits & Deadringers) and drummer Pat McGann (former Big Back Forty) strengthens the feeling of cohesiveness that runs throughout the record. The band recorded over half of »Cabin Fever« at home this time around, and the result is a more relaxed and intimate feel to many of the tracks. The addition of instruments like pedal steel, organ, accordion, dulcimer, autoharp, as well as nice percussion touches, add interesting textures to the songs and complete the sonic landscape. Let's hope the Hensley Sturgis boys get snowed in again this winter.
„Big Back Forty’s lone disc on A&M Records a few years ago was a stone Americana country/rock classic. The survivors still deliver the goods with “Cabin Fever”, a fine collection of songs that examines the foibles and trials of everyday life. Very well done.“ (MOJO)
Skrivet av Håkan Olsson
