THE GRAVEBLANKETS: western medicine

the graveblankets

western medicine

© 1998 chris arduser

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

the graveblankets play their own mutant brand of pop/folk/rock.

tracks

1 the undead
2 downwardspiral
3 i had to do it
4 the general died at dawn
5 rosewood casket
6 bury me
7 i'll build a fire
8 the half i saw
9 sorry
10 jealous of your throne
11 western medicine
12 what pauline kael thinks
13 i had to do this?

notes

The 'Blankets Medicine

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BY MIKE BREEN
Local Folk/Pop/Rock faves The Graveblankets will celebrate the release of their third CD, Western Medicine, with a shindig at York Street Cafe in Newport on Wednesday. Western Medicine is a self-released interim recording that the band has put out for fans while some material they recorded in Nashville will be shopped to labels under a new agreement with I.V. Records.

The record is also the first one to feature the band's new harmony vocalist Laura Chenault, who joins singer/multi-instrumentalist Chris Arduser, guitarist George Cunningham, bassist Bob Nyswonger and singer Bridget Otto for what is yet another fine addition to the Graveblankets' discography. Arduser--who plays drums with The Bears and was a member of The Raisins and psychodots--is one of the finest songwriters in the city, concocting remarkably catchy songs, ripe with hooks and emotional depth.

Musically, the group fleshes the tunes out with an organic, unique and rootsy grace and once again tight, well-written vocal harmonies prove to be one of the hallmarks of the band's sound. Arduser also takes matters entirely into his own hands on the tracks "Sorry" and "I Had to Do It," two weepy, addictive songs that feature the singer on all of the instruments. Other highlights include the addictively poppy opener "The Undead," the Zydeco-like strut of "The General Died At Dawn," the traditionally folky and fiery "Bury Me," and the swaggering, organ-driven "I'll Build a Fire."

For more information, write The Graveblankets, Box 19875, Cincinnati, OH 45219.



Graveblankets' dark tales
Chris Arduser's singing, writing help bring latest set of tunes to life

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BY LARRY NAGER
It's another solid collection of dependably dark and nuanced folk-rock from Chris Arduser and company. Guilt, death and assorted pain are all tunefully dealt with in this 11-song set.

"The Undead" focuses on our cultural obsession with classic films and music. "Rosewood Casket" is a dreamy meditation that uses the title, an image from traditional folk music, as a metaphor for lost love.

The Graveblankets have evolved into an outlet for Mr. Arduser's singing and songwriting. He's equal to the task, also contributing drums, guitar, mandolin and occasional bass.

"Sorry," a bleakly comic tale of a breakup, features him as a one-man band and duet. He's also solo on "Jealous Of Your Throne," earlier heard on Pepsi Jammin' On Main CD Sampler '98.

Not that the rest of the band isn't first-rate. Guitarist George Cunningham shines on his Richard Thompson-esque solo on "Bury Me," which also showcases the fiddling of former 'blanket Karen Addie. Bridget Otto and new 'blanket Laura Chenault provide celestial vocal harmonies. Longtime 'blanket Bob Nyswonger is on bass.

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