Viridian (album)

Last updated
Viridian
The Greencards - Viridian.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 6, 2007
Recorded Nashville, Tennessee
Genre Newgrass
Label Dualtone Records
Producer Doug Lancio
The Greencards chronology
Weather and Water
(2005)
Viridian
(2007)
Fascination
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Viridian is a 2007 studio album by the Austin, Texas bluegrass band The Greencards. Their third Dualtone Records studio album, it was released on March 6, 2007. It was nominated at the 2007 ARIA Music Awards for Best Country Album, but lost to Keith Urban for Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing.

Contents

Recording

In 2007, The Greencards were joined by Matt Wingate, a guitarist from Alabama, for their work on Viridian. [2] On their previous albums, The Greencards had individually recorded their separate musical tracks in isolation booths of recording studios, but for Viridian, recorded their album together in real time in an open room, which was said to be a factor in a spontaneous feel for some of the album. [3]

Most of the songs on Viridian are sung by Young, and all of the tracks on Viridian were written by The Greencards, with the exception of "Travel On", which was penned by Kim Richey of Nashville. [4] [5] Their sound, through Viridian, was likened to the Canadian alternative country band The Duhks. [4]

Influences

The recordings on Viridian, in particular the songs "River of Sand", "Waiting on the Night" and "When I Was in Love With You", were said to evoke the sounds of progressive folk rock that emerged in the 1960s. [2] The progressive nature of The Greencards' bluegrass sound has been compared to Nickel Creek and Alison Krauss & Union Station's own musical work to expand bluegrass. [6]

The lyrics on "When I Was in Love With You" were cited as among the most striking on Viridian, and were based in part by McLoughlin on a poem from the 1896 collection, A Shropshire Lad , by Alfred Edward Housman, the English poet. [7] The song was described as a "Pogues-like romp." [5] In a review of Viridian, Embo Blake of Hybrid Magazine noted Carol Young's vocal skill, as she "effortlessly diphthongs cadence" on the track "Waiting On The Night". [8]

According to ABC News in Dallas/Fort Worth, the album has a traditional bluegrass core, with a worldly flavor. [6] Doug Lancio, a producer who had previously worked with Patty Griffin, was said to have been a positive factor in the success of Viridian. Prior to the 2007 album, Lancio had not previously worked with The Greencards. [9]

Acclaim

After its release, Viridian claimed the #1 position on Billboard Magazine's Bluegrass Music Chart. [10] The Greencards are the first international musical act to ever reach #1 on the Bluegrass Music Chart. [11]

In December 2007, it was announced that their song "Mucky the Duck" from Viridian was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards, but ultimately lost to Brad Paisley's "Throttleneck." Written by Warner, the song was inspired by one of the band's favorite Austin musical venues, The Mucky Duck. [12] Eamon McLoughlin is a regular blogger for Country Music Television. [13] After the Grammy Awards, he wrote about the band's experience at the event. [14]

In the wake of Viridian, The Greencards have been internationally referred to as one of the most popular Americana musical acts in the United States. [3] Bruce Elder of the Sydney Morning Herald called Viridian a tour de force, [15] and has said that the band may, after this album, be the best country music performers to ever come out of Australia. [15]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Waiting on the Night" Carol Young / Jedd Hughes 3:34
2."Here You Are"Jedd Hughes3:53
3."River of Sand" David Mead / Kym Warner 3:53
4."Who Knows"Carol Young / Kym Warner / Ronnie Bowman5:32
5."All the Way From Italy"Jedd Hughes / Kym Warner4:24
6."Su Prabhat" Eamon McLoughlin / Robbie Gjersoe2:06
7."Shinin' in the Dark" Jerry Salley / Kym Warner2:44
8."When I Was in Love With You"Eamon McLoughlin3:58
9."I Don't Want to Lose You" Kim Richey 3:13
10."Lonesome Side of Town"Jerry Salley / Kym Warner3:35
11."Travel On"Kim Richey3:49
12."Mucky the Duck"Kym Warner3:27

A Fleetwood Mac cover, "Second Hand News", is included as hidden track. [16]

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickel Creek</span> American bluegrass band

Nickel Creek is an American bluegrass band consisting of Chris Thile (mandolin), and siblings Sara Watkins (fiddle) and Sean Watkins (guitar). Formed in 1989 in Southern California, they released six albums between 1993 and 2006. The band broke out in 2000 with a platinum-selling self-titled album produced by Alison Krauss, earning a number of Grammy and CMA nominations.

The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gray on double bass, and John Duffey on mandolin; the latter three also provided backing vocals. Together they released their debut studio album, Act I, in 1972, followed by both Act II and Act III in 1973.

Mountain Heart is an American band, which combines elements of rock, jam band, country, blues, jazz, folk and bluegrass music. Mountain Heart or its members have won or been nominated for multiple Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. They have appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Greencards</span> American progressive bluegrass band

The Greencards are an American progressive bluegrass band that formed in 2003 in Austin, Texas, and relocated in 2005 to Nashville, Tennessee. The band was founded by Englishman Eamon McLoughlin and Australians Kym Warner and Carol Young. The musicians originally performed in local Austin bars, and soon found increasing acclaim. They released one independent album, Movin' On, in 2003, and two albums, Weather and Water and Viridian, on the Dualtone record label. Their fourth album, Fascination, was released on Sugar Hill in 2009. Their fifth album, The Brick Album (2011), was self-produced with the direct support of their fans. Pre-production donors were recognized with their names inscribed on the "bricks" that make up the cover art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eamon McLoughlin</span> Country and Bluegrass musician

Eamon McLoughlin is an English musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. Primarily a fiddle player, he has toured and recorded with artists in the country music, bluegrass, and Americana fields. He holds the position of Staff Fiddle player at The Grand Ole Opry, working with a diverse range of artists including Vince Gill, Nina Simone, Carly Pearce, Oak Ridge Boys and many more. Eamon performs in the (separate) touring bands of Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell. He also sings, plays mandolin, guitar, cello and viola, and can be seen performing regularly with The 50 Shades of Hay. He has received two Grammy nominations for Country Instrumental Performance as a founding member of the American bluegrass band The Greencards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kym Warner</span> Musical artist

Kym Warner is an Australian musician and record producer, and a founding member of the American bluegrass band The Greencards. Warner was an aspiring bluegrass musician after inheriting the music from his father, an early Australian bluegrass pioneer. The winner of the Australian National Bluegrass Mandolin Championship for four consecutive years, Warner had toured with country music artists Gina Jeffreys, and with Young again in Kasey Chambers's band. Before the band formed, Carol Young and Warner both knew each other, and according to Warner had been drawn to bluegrass and American roots music through an appreciation of George Jones and Merle Haggard. After meeting, Warner and Young made the decision to emigrate to America, to pursue musical careers there. Later, Young and Warner were living together in Sydney, and trying to find work in the moribund Australian bluegrass scene. After leaving Australia, they spent time in West Texas before relocating to Austin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Young</span> Musical artist

Carol Young is an Australian musician, and a founding member of the American bluegrass band The Greencards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Lawson</span> American bluegrass and gospel musician

Doyle Wayne Lawson is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Grascals</span> American bluegrass band

The Grascals are a six-piece American bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in February 2004, the band has gained a level of fame by playing on the Grand Ole Opry and bluegrass festivals around the country, as well as with Dolly Parton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Skaggs</span> American musician, producer, and composer

Rickie Lee Skaggs, known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, mandocaster, and banjo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punch Brothers</span> American band

Punch Brothers is an American band consisting of Chris Thile (mandolin), Brittany Haas (fiddle/violin), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), and Paul Kowert (bass). Their style has been described as "bluegrass instrumentation and spontaneity in the strictures of modern classical" as well as "American country-classical chamber music".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Duncan</span> American bluegrass musician

Stuart Ian Duncan is an American bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and banjo.

<i>Weather and Water</i> 2005 studio album by The Greencards

Weather and Water is a 2005 studio album by the Austin, Texas progressive bluegrass band The Greencards. Their second Dualtone album release of 2005, after their debut 2003 album Movin' On was re-released earlier in the year by their label Dualtone Records, Weather and Water was released on June 28. In a review of Weather and Water in The Washington Post, it was noted that on this album, unlike their debut, the focus was on the music supporting lyrics, rather than the blues virtuosity of Movin' On. In another review, Jim Abbott of the Tribune News Service described The Greencards as polished, "earthy, charming roots music with a sophisticated sheen", but noted that some bluegrass purists may miss the vocal idiosyncrasies that can be found on other bluegrass bands such as the Del McCoury Band. All three members of the band sing on Weather and Water, but Young's voice was noted for its "dreamy, haunting quality". Their music through the Weather and Water album had been called Celtic-influenced and bluegrass-flavored, but noted that the band had a distinctly American sound despite their overseas origins.

<i>Movin On</i> (The Greencards album) 2003 studio album by The Greencards

Movin' On is the 2003 debut album by the Austin, Texas progressive bluegrass band The Greencards. The Greencards recorded and self-released Movin' On, selling 10,000 copies at shows and online, and reached #5 on the Americana radio charts. The album was said to break past traditional rules of bluegrass music, by integrating a jam-band mindset while blending classical folk balladry and rock 'n' roll into their sound. After the release of Movin' On in 2004 the Greencards won the Austin Music Awards for Best New Band. The Greencards were credited with performing the most energetic sets during the course of 2004's Austin City Limits Music Festival, were said to bring a global sound to bluegrass, and—by drawing on influences such as Bob Dylan and The Beatles—were pushing the genre's boundaries.

Michael Compton is an American bluegrass mandolin player and former protégé of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. He is considered a modern master of bluegrass mandolin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steep Canyon Rangers</span> American band

Steep Canyon Rangers is an American bluegrass band based in Asheville and Brevard, North Carolina.

<i>Fascination</i> (album) 2009 studio album by The Greencards

Fascination is the fourth studio album released by the progressive bluegrass band, The Greencards. It was their first album released on the Sugar Hill Records label. Released on April 21, 2009, it draws inspiration from bluegrass, rock, and blues. The album was described by member Carol Young as their own kind of sound, resulting from several years touring together. The track, "The Crystal Merchant", was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dailey & Vincent</span> American bluegrass music group

Dailey & Vincent is an American bluegrass music group composed of Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Aaron McCune, Wesley Smith (vocals), Patrick McAvinue (fiddle), Shaun Richardson, Rocky Marvel (drums), Gaven Largent (banjo), and Blaine Johnson (piano).

<i>Sweetheart of the Sun</i> (The Greencards album) 2013 studio album by The Greencards

Sweetheart of the Sun is the sixth studio album by The Greencards. It was released in August 2013 by Darling Street Records. It was produced, mixed, and recorded by Gary Paczosa with additional engineering by Shani Gandhi at Minutia Studio. Eric Boulanger mastered the recording at The Mastering Lab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Lancio</span> Musical artist

Doug Lancio is an American guitarist and record producer, based in Nashville, Tennessee. He has worked with a wide range of artists including John Hiatt, Nanci Griffith, Patty Griffin and Bob Dylan.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r949645
  2. 1 2 Buzz McClain (2007-04-18). "Greencards: Bluegrass With Varied Accents". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  3. 1 2 "Waiting On The Night". OZtrax, ABC. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  4. 1 2 Jim Moulton (2007). "The Greencards - Viridian". Country Stars Online. Archived from the original on 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  5. 1 2 Geoffrey Himes (2007-04-13). "THE GREENCARDS "Viridian" Dualtone". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  6. 1 2 Mario Tarradell (2007). "The Greencards". WFAA Dallas-Fort Worth. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  7. Naila Francis (August 16, 2007). "The Greencards' musical meanderings tend to influences from far and wide, with an eye always toward tradition". The Philadelphia Intelligencer.
  8. Embo Blake (2007). "The Greencards Viridian". Hybrid Magazine. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  9. Scott Iwasaki (2007). "Greencards drawn to American roots music". Deseret News. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  10. Tom Mayer (2007). "The Greencards blend bluegrass, country and pop in Bayboro". Sun Journal. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  11. Richard O Jones (2007). "Bluegrass chart toppers perform at Southgate House". Middletown Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  12. Keith Ryan Cartwright (2008). "International musicians unite with 'Greencards'". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  13. "Country Music Blog: Eamon McLoughlin". Country Music Television. 2008. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  14. Eamon McLoughlin (2008). "Grammy Nomination Raises the Bar". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  15. 1 2 Bruce Elder (2007-04-28). "Viridian". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  16. "Newgrass Voices: Sarah Jarosz covers the Decemberists; Sara Watkins goes solo; new coverage from the Greencards — Cover Lay Down". coverlaydown.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.