How to describe Thunder in the Valley? The fact that they share a label, Heart of a Champion, with Mike Gunther might be a clue. Like that Tom Waits enthusiast, they walk a line between cabaret waltz and punk in a single song, doing their clumsy best to entertain you.
But the clumsiness is carefully calculated, as is everything else on "A Long, Long Walk." These songs are impeccably arranged, from the whimsical bass-piano interplay of "Three Fishermen" to the fantastic handclaps of the barroom stomp "Altar." Thunder in the Valley's live shows receive a fair amount of positive press and it's easy to imagine why. These songs storm through the room with little regard for whatever stands in their way, and both band and listener benefit.
There are times when the rowdiness just comes across as sloppiness, primarily in Graham Smith's vocals. This isn't a problem throughout the whole disc, but there are moments when Smith seems unsure about whether or not to purposely sound inebriated and a decision either way would drastically help these songs. (My vote is for purposely inebriated.)
This, however, is nitpicking. "A Long, Long Walk" is nothing short of a joyous romp, and all members of Thunder in the Valley - Smith, pianist Jake Luck, bassist Matt Ryan, drummer Bill Wroblewski and guitarist Nick Ryan - deserve kudos. Or at least some beers to inspire the next record.
www.thunderinthevalleyband.com |
