Scott Tichenor
Dec-19-2006, 6:03pm
A lot of interesting mandolin music hits my mailbox, and every so often one pops up that's so unusual and well done that I feel compelled to comment. A few days ago I received John Kruth's "Eva Destruction" (http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_00501.shtml). This recording defies category. It could as easily go into the world music/alt/whatever but ends up here just because it's the link I selected. This is a really interesting recording. My tastes lean more towards acoustic, and this CD certainly has some of that, but it also has some edgey electric (standard and octave) along with more than I'm capable of describing.
Look at the line-up from the notes on his web site:
Produced by Paul "Evil" Kneevers the disc features 10 Kruth originals (with four instrumentals) and a cast of legendary Wisconsin musicians including Brian Ritchie and Victor DeLorenzo of Violent Femmes, Dan Kubinski of Die Kreuzen, Sigmund Snopek III, Paul Kneevers, Mike Hoffman of Semi Twang and the Carnival Stippers, John Frankovic of Plasticland, Jason Loveall of the Danglers, Jeff Hamilton of the Probers, plus members of the legendary Milwaukee Creative Music Ensemble and cellist Melissa Barnard of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Kruth's mandolin is the driving force behind this wild mix of psychedelic and old world music. Eva Destruction Kruth's 8th disc, also features the strange and wonderful cover art of surrealist J. Karl Bogartte.
I dig it when I hear someone using the mandolin in a totally unexpected format, and it's so wonderfully done that someone with tastes outside of the genre finds it's appealing. John has done it here, in my opinion. If you like Santana, Beatles, world music, some Italian, heavy metal/punk/alt, you may enjoy this. If ya can't get beyond a bluegrass fiddle tune, that's OK, but this one ain't for ya. Very interesting piece of work. Side note, Kruth is a professor of music in NYC, so he's not chopped liver.
More:
Crustacean Records (http://www.crustaceanrecords.com/cart/description.php?IS=65)
John Kruth web site (http://www.johnkruth.com/)
Look at the line-up from the notes on his web site:
Produced by Paul "Evil" Kneevers the disc features 10 Kruth originals (with four instrumentals) and a cast of legendary Wisconsin musicians including Brian Ritchie and Victor DeLorenzo of Violent Femmes, Dan Kubinski of Die Kreuzen, Sigmund Snopek III, Paul Kneevers, Mike Hoffman of Semi Twang and the Carnival Stippers, John Frankovic of Plasticland, Jason Loveall of the Danglers, Jeff Hamilton of the Probers, plus members of the legendary Milwaukee Creative Music Ensemble and cellist Melissa Barnard of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Kruth's mandolin is the driving force behind this wild mix of psychedelic and old world music. Eva Destruction Kruth's 8th disc, also features the strange and wonderful cover art of surrealist J. Karl Bogartte.
I dig it when I hear someone using the mandolin in a totally unexpected format, and it's so wonderfully done that someone with tastes outside of the genre finds it's appealing. John has done it here, in my opinion. If you like Santana, Beatles, world music, some Italian, heavy metal/punk/alt, you may enjoy this. If ya can't get beyond a bluegrass fiddle tune, that's OK, but this one ain't for ya. Very interesting piece of work. Side note, Kruth is a professor of music in NYC, so he's not chopped liver.
More:
Crustacean Records (http://www.crustaceanrecords.com/cart/description.php?IS=65)
John Kruth web site (http://www.johnkruth.com/)