Pier Pressure

Amazon.com
Singer Moondi Klein, bassist T. Michael Coleman, and dobroist Mike Auldridge continue to differentiate their new band, Chesapeake, from their old group, the Seldom Scene. On the new Chesapeake album, Pier Pressure, the three musicians and their bandmate Jimmy Gaudreau continue to sidle away from hardcore bluegrass and towards a bluegrass-country-pop hybrid sound that reminds one of Ricky Skaggs's early-'80s hits. Nanci Griffith's drummer Pat McInerney is credited in the liner notes as the unofficial "fifth member of Chesapeake," and he adds a percussive thump to all dozen songs on "Pier Pressure."

Such a stylistic shift wouldn't matter much one way or another if the quality of the songwriting, singing, and picking didn't match the quartet's past work with the Seldom Scene, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and the Country Gentlemen. It's no surprise that the instrumental work is topnotch, most obviously on the instrumental medley where Gaudreau's mandolin showcase, his own "At the Drive-In," segues into Auldridge's pedal-steel guitar showcase, Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk." Nor is it any surprise that Klein's high, sweet tenor sounds good, whether harmonizing with his bandmates on Van Morrison's "Full Force Gale" or with Linda Ronstadt on Steve Gillette's "Bed of Roses." The big surprise is Coleman's blossoming as a songwriter. The bassist wrote four songs, and they all sparkle with wit, details, and hooks, whether confessing homesickness on "Once a Day," hopeless love on "Guilty," or a lingering rock & roll jones on "Rockin' Hillbilly." --Geoffrey Himes

Pier Pressure,Chesapeake,Sugarhill [Country],Bluegrass,Country,Country-Folk,Neo-Traditional Folk,Neo-Traditionalist Country,Pop

Average customer rating: Fantastic album

Pier Pressure Chesapeake Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Full Sail Rising Tide All the Roadrunning ASIN: B000000F5X Release Date: 1997-10-21

Tracks:

1. Once A Day
2. Full Force Gale
3. Bed Of Roses
4. Nothing Ain't A Lot
5. Carolina Star
6. Sleepwalk(ing) At The Drive-In
7. Baby Blue Eyes
8. White Pilgrim
9. Guilty
10. Rockin' Hillbilly
11. Don't Lay Down
12. Working On A Building

Amazon.com

Singer Moondi Klein, bassist T. Michael Coleman, and dobroist Mike Auldridge continue to differentiate their new band, Chesapeake, from their old group, the Seldom Scene. On the new Chesapeake album, Pier Pressure, the three musicians and their bandmate Jimmy Gaudreau continue to sidle away from hardcore bluegrass and towards a bluegrass-country-pop hybrid sound that reminds one of Ricky Skaggs's early-'80s hits. Nanci Griffith's drummer Pat McInerney is credited in the liner notes as the unofficial "fifth member of Chesapeake," and he adds a percussive thump to all dozen songs on "Pier Pressure."

Such a stylistic shift wouldn't matter much one way or another if the quality of the songwriting, singing, and picking didn't match the quartet's past work with the Seldom Scene, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and the Country Gentlemen. It's no surprise that the instrumental work is topnotch, most obviously on the instrumental medley where Gaudreau's mandolin showcase, his own "At the Drive-In," segues into Auldridge's pedal-steel guitar showcase, Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk." Nor is it any surprise that Klein's high, sweet tenor sounds good, whether harmonizing with his bandmates on Van Morrison's "Full Force Gale" or with Linda Ronstadt on Steve Gillette's "Bed of Roses." The big surprise is Coleman's blossoming as a songwriter. The bassist wrote four songs, and they all sparkle with wit, details, and hooks, whether confessing homesickness on "Once a Day," hopeless love on "Guilty," or a lingering rock & roll jones on "Rockin' Hillbilly." --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic album.......2003-12-07

This is a great album. Especially liked "Bed of Roses" (Moondi Klein and Linda Ronstadt). Klein has got a beautiful tenor voice.

Average customer rating:

Pier Pressure Bob Sterling Manufacturer: Bob Sterling ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA9ZI6 Release Date: 2003-01-21

Tracks:

1. Beautiful Light
2. Those Days Will Never Be
3. Donner Pass
4. Enthusiasm
5. Pier Pressure
6. For You
7. Sad to See You Go
8. Vernal Falls
9. Here's a Song for Laura

Average customer rating:

Pier Pressure Be Sharp Manufacturer: Red Steel ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music ASIN: B000024MPQ

Music Album:

1. Plays Bill Monroe
2. Skeeter Davis sings Buddy Holly/ Skeeter sings Dolly
3. Something to Talk About//Harmony [Import]
4. Songwriter of the Tear
5. Springtime
6. Steve Wariner [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered]
7. Swing Your Partner: Country Time Square Dance (With Calls)
8. The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits
9. The Electric Horseman [Soundtrack]
10. The King & the Father

Music Album