The CD release party is at One Longfellow Square on Thursday October 9, 2008.

CD review by Bob McKillop

Pictured from left to right:  Jeff Trippe, Rod Pervier, and Stuart MacDonald of The Mutineers.

The Mutineers (http://www.themutineers.com/) define themselves by their love of traditional string band music.  They have brought that devotion to life in their new album, “Coal Creek”. 

Mainers who enjoy this type of music have known about this three-piece acoustic band for quite a few years now, even though there have been some personnel changes:  Stuart McDonald is the sole charter member in the group.  But the high caliber of the musicianship, and the strong songwriting, have remained consistent since the beginning.  This new CD will hopefully help to extend the boundaries of the band’s success beyond the local music scene here in Maine.

The disc is comprised of twelve songs, four of which are traditional tunes, and McDonald has written the others.  He got some co-writing help from band mate Jeff Trippe on “Whisky Road”, and from his grandmother’s poetry on “Prism”.  The “East Virginia Blues” track is attributed to McDonald, and is a lyrical update on a favorite old time song.  McDonald’s songwriting relies heavily on his love for traditional string band, old time, and British Isles acoustic music.  He has managed to honor that foundation without coming off trite or derivational.

The title track is a hard-luck ramble about loss of job, loss of love, loss of hope.  McDonald’s resonating, rich vocal carries the tune from one verse to the next, with a classic jug band track in the background.  Rod Pervier’s bass line is nicely present, and Stu’s guitar and Jeff’s mandolin walk alongside like gently rippling stream.  Ben MacDonald contributes a nice dobro line.

In “Cuckoo”, Trippe takes up the banjo and lays it under the track like the clicking of the rails under a railroad coach. McDonald’s guitar picking and strumming fill out the sonic pallet, while his lead work keeps the groove interesting.  It’s a song of love betrayed, and the sorrows of a life afterwards, but as in many traditional songs, the lyrics are a vehicle for instrumental hijinks.

“Love Devine” features fiddle work by the wonderful local talent, Hope Hoffman.  Her sweet melodic lines brighten this tune, above and beyond the joyful plucking of Trippe’s mandolin.  Trippe also contributes some killer vocal harmonies, as he does in some of the other tunes on this disc.  His high, tight voice comes through the mix like a sharp knife, never competing with McDonalds lead, always embellishing.  These are some of the most skilled and musically aware backing vocals that I’ve heard on a local production.  It is a very optimistic, joyous song.

Stu McDonald credits his late, beloved grandmother, Barbara Sewall McDonald, as co-writer on “Prism”; he wrote the song from lines in her poetry.  The lyrics are beautiful.

“Like a prism I hold my life up to the scrutiny of the sun

I see the colors of my past blending and meeting into one

I choose to remember the best, as memories come flooding back to me

I hold ‘em in my hand, I let the bad ones go, floatin’ away on the evening breeze”

This track is a very nicely arranged piece. A beautiful pedal steel line by Alan Bean compliments an uplifting keyboard part by Kim Bean; this is especially well done in the instrumental break.  I loved this tune.

“Lonesome Road” is a solo by Stu MacDonald – it sounds as if it’s just his vocals, his guitar, and his harmonica.  The simple arrangement is clean, clear, well recorded, and brings out the theme and tone of the song nicely.   McDonald is a skilled guitarist, bringing lots of texture and dynamics into his playing.  When accompanying himself, the coordination of his instrument and his vocals result in a tighter meter and better lyrical phrasing than we hear in some of the other tunes.  This is an acoustic gem.

Some other valued and very talented contributors from the local music scene include Charlie Gaylord (Diesel Doug and the Long Haul Truckers, GFAC 207) on electric guitar and Kevin Midgley on national steel guitar.  They add much to the enjoyment of the record, even if the mix may, at times, not do them justice on the more complex arrangements.  Stu MacDonald and Jeff Trippe are credited as producers, and the disc was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Baked Bean Recording in Harrison, Maine.  In general, the record sounds great, especially the positioning of Stu’s lead vocals and Jeff’s harmonies – nicely done.

The CD release party for this disc is at One Longfellow Square on Thursday, October 9th, and my favorite local old time multi-instrumentalist, Putnam Smith, will open the show. Supporting this great local string band will be easy – the CD is well worth buying and the show promises to be a memorable one.  I’m going to be there for sure – you should too!

The Mutineers CD release party for

“Coal Creek” – Putnam Smith opens

One Longfellow Square, Portland

September 9, 2008

$7.00 admission, show starts at 8:00 PM

Full disclosure – Jeff Trippe, a member of the The Mutineers, contributes music reviews to MaineFolkMusic.com.