Middle of Everywhere
Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three
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| Total: 13 Songs |
iTunes Review
Inspired by music of the 1920s and ‘30s, Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three play a stylish blend of ragtime, country blues, jug bands, and Western swing with such authority that you expect to hear the crackle of an old 78 record in the background. Listening to the quartet, it’s easy to imagine them rolling down the Mississippi entertaining passengers on a riverboat. Pokey LaFarge’s vocals are equally out of time, sounding like some pre-war New Orleans street busker influenced by both Jimmie Rodgers and Blind Willie McTell. Middle of Everywhere is a lively, good-time album that transcends the novelty of its old-time aesthetic on the strength of the musicianship, attention to detail, and songwriting. They are all LaFarge’s compositions, but they are so true to the form that most could pass as covers. Featuring guitar, including stellar slide work, harmonica, washboard, and upright bass, these guys can flat-out play, and their vocal harmonies are sweet as honey. Infectious and fun, Middle of Everywhere will have you smiling and toe-tapping in no time.
Customer Reviews
Country?
Why in the world is this under the Country genre!? Great stuff but iTunes needs to work on refining their genres.
A Rare Sound
While the sounds of this cd may have been commonplace in the 50's, you would be hard-pressed to find them anywhere in todays mainstream, Alternative, Indie, or Hell, anywhere in todays music. That is why Pokey Lafarge and The South City Three have such a catchy, and dare I say, original sound. It is easy to get lost in these songs and I find myself humming them already even though I have only listened twice. I heard of this group on NPR's first listen, now I know they have been around for awhile now but I was hooked by just the first song on their album and bought the cd at midnight. I am honored to be the first person to review this wonderfully put together album and recommend it to anyone who digs the blues and especially those who can tap their feet to some old time tunes. BUY THIS ALBUM!
Album of the Year
Once Again Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three bring fun and style to music with their latest release Middle of Everywhere. Named for their hometown St.Louis' relativity to the rest of the country, and their place in the world touring all over, Middle of Everywhere is a superb release through and through. The attention getting schtick and pagentry are missing from the album, unlike Riverboat Soul. RS just grabbed and pulled you right in with legendary tales of 'Claude Jones' and Jim Jones in 'In the Graveyard Now', RS also forced you to take notice with such crowd pleasing period pieces as 'Hard Times Come and Go'.
Instead Middle of Everwhere, brings forth 13 tracks that don't require a period or being called "old timey'. These are just 13 pleasing songs of love, relationships failed and girls, that can be listened to over and over.
In the future, when discussing whether a band has come into their own, comparisons will be made to this album. The sound that is completely and uniquely home to Pokey & Co is on display for the rest of the music world to learn from. Especially, the lack of borders and frameworks that he is constrained with
The album starts out with 'So Long Honeybee Goodbye' , including an all time best witty lyric that could only have been rhymed by Pokey. Using C'est La vie and Honeybee made for a fun rhyme, not to mention an example of the dexterity of tongue Pokey is able to pull that off with frequency. Further displaying the individuality and in-comparability of Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three is 'Weedwacker Bag'
To be able to show the distinctive personality that is Pokey LaFarge, while easily summing up the rest of the world is quite profound. The ease at which his point of view comes across is compelling. Likely the reason this album is so easy to love right away.
"The band and I found our sound while recording the new album," notes Pokey. "I truly discovered my voice and refined my songwriting, and I;m very excited for folks far and wide to hear what we have going on."
To seal the deal on the album, The South City Three: Joey Glynn, Adam Hoskins, and Ryan Koenig bring skill of their instruments equal to the wit of Pokey. Also joining in on the album are Shayne Cohn on Cornet, Charlie Halloran of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame on Trombone, and Andrew Ratcliffe on drums.
The cohesiveness of the band as a unit is an integral part of this album, as it is not your standard blue grass fare, or really your standard anything.
Top Albums and Songs By Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
La la Blues | Riverboat Soul | 3:42 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Claude Jones | Riverboat Soul | 3:38 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Drinkin’ Whiskey Tonight | Middle of Everywhere | 2:52 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
So Long Honeybee, Goodbye | Middle of Everywhere | 3:06 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
Hard Times Come and Go | Riverboat Soul | 3:45 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Migraines and Heartpains | Riverboat Soul | 2:42 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
In the Graveyard Now | Riverboat Soul | 3:34 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Bag of Bones | Riverboat Soul | 4:04 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Sweet Potato Blues | Riverboat Soul | 3:53 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Daffodil Blues | Riverboat Soul | 3:29 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
