Cross-eyed Rosie
Lookin' Up
© 2003 Uncle Ostrom Records (737885353425)
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Female-led acoustic "bluesgrass" with a rich traditional feel and a bubbly modern feel like Nickel Creek and Allison Krauss
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Often dubbed "bluesgrass", this sextet has created a masterful and beautiful recording that runs the gamut of original folk and bluegrass to traditional gospel to an Appalachian fiddle medley.
"Cross-eyed Rosie merges bluegrass as soulful as anything heard in the Appalachians with the power and spirit of Joan Baez. To hear music this rousing and poignant anywhere else, you'd have to take a roadtrip to the mountains of east Tennessee."
--David Sharp, Portland journalist.
Cross-eyed Rosie started as a group of friends meeting and playing at our favorite coffee haunt, the Ugly Mug in Sellwood, OR. After a year of practicing, recording and gigging around the northwest and filling up venues all over, Cross-eyed Rosie has really come into its own light.
"A laid-back, homegrown group featuring two gals harmonizing over gentle guit-mando-fiddle-bass backdrop, Rosie's been drawing crowds to some of Puddletown's more modest watering holes for the past several months with a combination of traditional covers and faithful originals." Willamette Week, 9/3/03
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Torchgrass
author: Mark GensmanPosted on the Nwbluegrass Yahoogroup: The band members are as follows: Allison Longstreth - Vocals; Zoe Kaplan - Vocals; Lincoln Crockett - Mandolin, Vocals; John Ostrom - Guitar; Ellie Holzemer - Fiddle; Jason Mellow - Acoustic Bass. With all of the new definitions of bluegrass being bantered around out there..newgrass, jazzgrass, jamgrass, etc. I believe this band does not belong in any existing category. They do pure bluegrass and they do it well. They color every song with bluegrass sensibilities and they certainly have typical bluegrass instruments. It would be easy to call them a bluegrass band with two female lead singers. But when you add in to the mix the vocal stylings of Allison and Zoe, I think the only descriptive word that works is my own: Torchgrass. There are eleven songs on this CD, which was recorded and produced by John Ostrom in his home studio. Eight of the songs are original tunes written either by band members or for the band. 1. Devil's Ink - Nice up tempo bluegrass romp. An original tune and typical great vocal harmonies throughout. 2. Rosalie - Sweet ballad with a nice mellow fiddle throughout. 3. Lookin' Up - Another original tune with a nice change in the middle. These folks can write some really nice tunes. 4. Hole In The Road - This would best be described as a funky bluegrass tune that is really well done and the whistle at the end is a neat touch. 5. Shelburne - Good "standard" bluegrass original with a great story line. 6. Ragtime Annie/Arkansas Traveler - A showcase for the band to prove their bluegrass chops and a nice job on arrangements of these traditional tunes. 7. Wayfairing Stranger - Another great arrangement of a traditional bluegrass song and one that supports my definition of this band with the term Torchgrass. 8. John Day Waltz - Another original with a great story line and a good bluegrass waltz. 9. Honey Break Blues - Certainly a departure from bluegrass although not very far.. Great backbeat going on and it wouldn't be a huge stretch to hear Grisman jamming over this tune. 10. Hands On The Wheel - The Tennessee Waltz redux. Nice simple intro with just guitar and vocals that is very effective. 11. Colorado - A good bluegrass tune with some great instrumental breaks. John does some good flatpicking and the bass breaks are really well done and quite tasty. The vocal harmonies are top notch as usual. All in all a really nice first effort for this Portland based band. I have one complaint. After hearing the band live I was looking forward to hearing John Ostrom do more breaks on the CD. He is a great guitarist. I think the Portland area bluegrass fans should make an effort to hear this group. They provide a new and refreshing take on bluegrass without offending those with traditional sensibilities. (Mark Gensman, Ground Zero Sound)
FABULOUS VOCALS~ALL AROUND GOOD TIME MUSIC!
author: Ann SwangerI have to admit this is my first Bluegrass/Folk CD EVER! I enjoy it more and more everytime I hear it as does my 3 month old. I can't wait for the release of their second as I am sure they are on their way up!
Great album, especially those new to the genre of music
author: karen andreasReally enjoy this CD - a different musical style than the rest of my "collection," but an excellent addition! Tends to be my Sunday afternoon CD for relaxing or putting around the house - lively and upbeat. Love the sound of the female vocalists, very powerful.