I Am a Wanderer - Dustup
The record breaking temperatures continue to rise. Raging wildfires have destroyed millions of acres of forests and wiped out entire communities. The pandemic is raging around the world with more than six million dead. Wait, what? Now a dictator covets the land of his neighbors and is waging war to get it. Just stop, take a deep breath and listen.
Jeff Sweet, Hank Fridell and the Dust Bunnies come through again with their gentle guidance through this crazy world. You'll find the unlikely mix of electric guitar and five-string banjo that actually works backed by solid vocals and instrumentation and some delightful surprises.
Ten tracks address the issues of staying wary of deception, finding your own way, renewable energy, wonder, peace, weariness, love and loss. ("hold on, hold on,") The CD comes in an eco friendly package with pleasing, creative artwork. Overall, their message is one of hope. We all need this CD.
Highly recommended.
Rex Rideout
Dustup! Jeff Sweet & Hank Fridell
Dustup! is a series of songs to guide the listener through this modern world. Jeff and Hank along with Kevin Huston, Marianne Fridell, Lily Fridell and the Won't Raise the Dead Gang address problems and scenarios that we all encounter. Indeed, they have the guts to take on some very serious ones and do so with equal measures of wisdom and humor. There is a common thread of banjo and guitar cleverly mixed with vocals and a wide range of other instrument voices. A good example is addressing the benefits and problems of the driverless car that will surely be in our lives in the years to come. Who else has taken on that topic? These songs are refreshing, pleasing and skillfully performed.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Rex Rideout
Interesting Times - Dustup
Jeff Sweet, Hank Fridell and the Dust Bunnies return with their third Dustup CD. As they have done before there are a group of songs to help guide us all through life but this time they are even taking on the pandemic threatening our entire world. Those who have enjoyed their earlier work will be gratified with a varied mix of styles and vocals with a creative mix of electric guitar and five-string banjo. Track 7, Don't Shrink Wrap My World, deserves mention as an anthem to better care for our only home in the form of a '60s surfin' beach band vibe! These guys do not fail to surprise and do that right to the last track. Not knowing what was to come the final cut is a soothing gift to all of us that are hunkered down in the dead of Winter. Ahhh. This CD was created to get us all through these uncertain times, great music and vocals and clever graphics. Interesting Times to be sure.
Highly recommended.
Rex Rideout
Another DustUP - The Other Side
When you hear music from Hank and Marianne Fridell, it is multi-styled and thoughtful. I've said that each of their CDs is a handbook on how to live one's life. Well Hank has been joining forces with longtime friend Jeff Sweet and their latest titled,: The Other Side is all of that and even gets to the big picture of being a citizen of this world and how one should lead it. It seems folks need to be told that these days, But they even carried it further and give advice on what one does when your mortal days on earth are over. Why put yourself in a sealed box? There are eleven clever tracks with a pleasing range of vocals, with fine instrumentals including Hank's ever present banjo licks.
Highly recommended.
TimeTravelMusic