CD Review: Maple & Rye – For Everything –
by Ritchie Ritchison for Country Music News International
- Monterey
- Rebel’s Run
- Lorelei
- Leaving Now
- Pretoria
- Con of the Century
- Cannonball
- Eldorado
- For Everything
- Albion
Whenever an album comes across my desk for review I take a look at the name of the artist or group and try to imagine what I am about to hear. I had never heard of Maple and Rye but the name sounded fresh and a little nostalgic at the same time and I anticipated an album of unique country music with possibly a little southern rock flavor to spice things up.
I could not have been more wrong or more pleasantly surprised. The are not a country band at all but rather a folk-pop band from Sweden!
Although the first song musically could be an outtake from a 1970’s New Riders of the Purple Sage album the vocals and the lyrics are decidedly fresh. But just as I was settling down and expecting a solid set of modern country rock three minutes later I was transported to an entirely different world. Another 3 minutes later I was once again taken to another world musically and lyrically. There are hints of traditional German, Mexican, Spanish and African folk music laced throughout these ten well written songs, passionately delivered.
If ever there was a band that could be called “World Music” it would be Maple and Rye.
There is some form of influence from every corner of the globe and yet it is blended into a singular cohesive sound that is totally Maple and Rye.
There isn’t a bad song on the disc but I do have some favorites. Monterey opens the album and while setting the tone for the rest of the disc it also stands alone as its own masterpiece. Lorelei is one of those songs that stays with you long after you have stopped the disc and Con of the Century is another offering that stands above the rest.
The vocals, the music and the songwriting on this album are all top notch and the production is solid as well.
If Contemporary folk-pop is your kind of thing I highly recommend Maple and Rye… For Everything!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars