The Dustbowl Revival
With a Lampshade On
Reviewed by: Fareeha Naim
If you’ve listened to The Dustbowl Revival before, you know their sound can’t be described with just one word. It’s a mesh of bluegrass, jazz, swing, blues, and soul with a dash of funk, just to make it all the more unique.
Attention is captured from the first song, “Lampshade On”, a fun number that immediately makes you want to get up and dance. With a catchy beat and impressive fiddle solos, this track stays true to bluegrass roots while adding in their own flair. Lead singer Zach Lupetin’s classic country voice is prominent, tying the whole song together. The soul in “Feels Good” is the kind that makes you want to throw your hands in the air and just feel the music. Second vocalist Liz Beebe’s powerful voice is shines through, mixing old southern funk and a country twang with gospel in a way only The Dustbowl Revival can. Each track is a testament to the flexibility of the band, as multiple genres battle each other to lead in each track. From the jazzy ballads “Doubling Down on You” and “Standing Next to Me”, to the big-band style “Ballad of the Bellhop”, to the Argentine-tango like “Bright Lights”- song after song proves how versatile the band is with their writing. The fast-paced drinking song “Whisky in the Well” is the perfect ending. The album started with upbeat bluegrass, and finishes the same way. Staying true to bluegrass country while fusing it with decades of great American genres is what makes their sound so distinct.
Also emphasized on this album are the talents of each individual member. “Ain’t My Fault” and “Whisky in the Well” feature long drum solos, courtesy of Joshlyn Heffernan. “Old Joe Clark” highlights just how gifted Connor Vance is on the fiddle. With a toe tapping beat and fast fiddle solos, Vance’s ability is the star of this upbeat bluegrass track. “Wrapped in the Heart” and “Bright Lights” exemplify Matt Rubin’s talent on the trumpet, both with and without a plunger. Lupetin’s and Beebe’s voices fit together perfectly, creating effortless harmonies. Even James Klopfleisch, the bassist, is featured, having a solo in the ending number “Whisky in the Well”.
The most impressive part of this album isn’t the songs themselves—it’s the fact that most of the tracks were recorded live. That’s right, LIVE. Not that it’s incredibly noticeable. It’s completely different from what you’d expect to hear from a live album. You can hear the cheers from the audience, sure, but the sound of the music is still clean and sharp, as if all the tracks were recorded in a studio, one instrument at a time. The point wasn’t to release a live album—it was to embody the brilliance of The Dustbowl Revival in their element. Their stage presence, the audience’s excitement, and being completely lost within their music, is all captured through each track. Their instruments never faltered, voices never wavered, and energy never lacked. Being able to produce this sort of sound in a studio is one thing; producing this sound live? That’s a whole new level of amazing.
Rating: Bad-Ass
