[FM] FAME Review: Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer's Tanglewood Tree written by Michael Gasser

[David N. Pyles]

Tanglewood Tree
Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
www.daveandtracy.com

SIG 1257
Signature Sounds
P.O. Box 106
Whately, MA 01903

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Michael Gasser 
(migas@compuserve.com)

Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer call their music ''all original, post-modern, 
mythic American.'' But don't be scared, you won't need a dictionary to 
understand their music. ''Tanglewood Tree'' is their second collaboration 
and their first for the thriving Signature Sounds label, which seems to 
amass nothing but great talent on its roster. The new album has earned a 
lot of rave reviews, and was the most played album on folk radio for three 
ensuing months this year.

The two have chosen Portland, Oregon as their adopted hometown, but Dave 
Carter's Texan background still shines through. He writes the songs all by 
himself, but it is mainly due to Carter's joining forces with Tracy Grammer 
that a different kind of potential became possible for the duo. One plus 
one can sometimes be more than just two.

You can get lost all too easily listening to this album, where killer 
harmonies meet up with masterfully played instruments. Listen to Tracy 
Grammer's gutsy vocals on ''Crocodile Man'' and enjoy. In that song Grammer 
shows more steam and eroticism than all the world's assembled material 
girls. Her fiddle playing is equally impressive and is of such sheer and 
astonishing beauty that whenever it can be heard, the already magical album 
torpedos itself onto an even higher level.

The music of Carter and Grammer is sure to bring down any house. You can 
call it country, you can call it folk - it's not that important. What is 
relevant is that their sound belongs to the top of the crop in any of these 
genres. Sometimes the duo is a tiny bit reminiscent of Gillian Welch and 
her partner David Rawlings, although far less somber. In comparison, Carter 
and Grammer seem to write more upbeat lyrics, which are sometimes tongue in cheek. Carter's lyrics possess a tremendously graceful flow, making his 
songs convincing creations with subtle meanings and wonderful wording - 
pure poetry.  His is a talent among talents.

Asking for more than this album offers would come close to a deadly sin. 
 From the CD's first second to the very last, there is not even one 
remotely boring moment. They start picking their instruments and the record 
reveals its wonders right away, non-stop .

No doubt, this year's laurels will go to Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer.

Happytown (All Right With Me)
Tanglewood Tree
The Montain
Farewell To Saint Dolores
Hey Conductor
Crocodile Man
Walkin' Away From Caroline
Farewell To Fiddler's Rim
Cat-Eye Willie Claims His Lover
Cowboy Singer

Farewell To Bitterroot Valley

All songs written by Dave Carter

Edited by Roberta B. Schwartz

Copyright 2000, Peterborough Folk Music Society. This review may be 
reprinted with prior permission and attribution.


================
David N. Pyles
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
=====================
some people think they got nothin' to say
they're just wishin the world would go another way
some people need to know the fire burns
in everybody's belly that's ever been born

raise your voice, don't leave it on the ground
raise your voice, let your hair hang down
raise your voice, make a lotta noise
make a whole lotta noise lemme hear the sound
make a whole lotta noise lemme hear the sound

 From "Raise Your Voice" by Tina Lear