THE MARQUETTE TRIBUNE Tarbox Ramblers Most people consider being told that you're living in the past to be a putdown. If anyone were to say that to the members of the Tarbox Ramblers, a Boston band keen on blending delta blues, spirituals and mournful rock phrasings into one dark concoction, they'd probably be delighted — and then continue hammering their instruments into submission. Though the Tarbox Ramblers had an ear exclusively for the past on its 2000 release, a self-titled collection of covers and rearranged traditional songs, A Fix Back East , the band's follow-up, shows it to be maturing into a roots band to keep tabs on in coming years. The band roars out of the gates on "Already Gone," a boisterous romp through the swamp made even more striking by the hellish growl of the band's namesake, singer/guitarist Michael Tarbox. The Ramblers then slow down to tell the tale of Jesus' death and resurrection on "Were You There?," a track featuring blues couplets punctuated by Daniel Kellar's haunting violin work. After another aggressively played delta blues number, "Country Blues," the Ramblers deliver a slow-burning, tripped-out lament on the album's title track, which highlights the band's stylistic range. The track also offers the first showcase for the considerable songwriting talents of Tarbox. The former taxi driver, who sounds a bit like a more gravelly-voiced version of Steppenwolf's John Kay, penned eight of A Fix Back East's 11 songs, including the title track's intensely delivered cryptic lyrics ("The phone rings twice/I pick it up/He says 'Is she there now?'/'Who's this?' I ask/He says 'I think you know'/I hang up/She's gone anyhow.") With 1960s inspired forays, the Ramblers are clearly venturing into new territory. But despite the band's eclecticism, A Fix Back East proves to be a surprisingly fluid listen. The outfit behind Tarbox is as solid as they come, no matter if they are chugging through what could be mistaken for a lost Howlin' Wolf cut ("Honey Babe"), a jaunty rendition of the traditional tune "Last Month of the Year" or providing the distant rumblings behind Tarbox's wall of distorted guitar as he weaves the web of a scoundrel's rebirth on "Ashes to Ashes" ("Caracas blazed before you with the rising sun/Her strangers would forgive you everything you'd done.") Additionally, Tarbox's ability to write to his one-dimensional vocals probably helped the band's sound remain steady from track to track. Other than finding a slightly clearer voice for the album's spirituals, Tarbox's raspy snarl rarely changes and works perfectly with A Fix Back East's gloomy mood. Without a throwaway track on it, A Fix Back East stands as an impressive sophomore effort for an impressive blues-based band that has the potential to go as far as its talented leader wants to take it. Except for Tarbox's lyrical prowess, the Tarbox Ramblers aren't doing anything highly original. But when your music is as undeniably powerful as on A Fix Back East , that doesn't much matter. Grade: A |