FROG HOLLER
Idiots (Record Cellar)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Originally a bluegrass trio, Frog Holler has expanded to a septet as their sound has expanded to embrace heartbreak ballads, shitkicker shuffles and barroom boogie. They play and sing just fine, with a kind of "good buddy" blend of tight and loose, as the situation dictates. What sets them apart from the alt.country pack, though, is the presence of one of the finest songwriters in the field.

Singer/guitarist/songwriter Darren Schlappich does a first rate job of looking out at the world through the eyes of his proudly insular Berks County, PA, neighbors, while simultaneously looking back in at them through the eyes of a friendly but bemused sociological spectator. The resulting songs provide a fascinating blend of the personal and universal, with great good fun lurking around every corner.

This is another review delayed by constant replay. Sorry it took me so long to tell you about this spring release. Don't take too long to get yours.

Track List:

Adams Hotel Road * Spiders & Planes * WJKS * Stray * Who Will....? * Happy Hour * Pennsylvania * The Kingdom Of Bocephus Klein * Choose A Path * Bitter Blues * Bitter Blues * Thirty One * Native Trout

© 2001 - Shaun Dale