Name: 9Th Ward Pickin' Parlor
Brand: Vanguard
SKU: 60381
Price: 10.51 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Personnel: Shawn Mullins (acoustic guitar); The Starvation Army Po' Boy Choir (various instruments); Mike West (acoustic guitar); David Patterson , Rob Gal, Peter Stroud (electric guitar); William Tonks (lap steel guitar); Chris Thile (mandolin); Brandon Bush (accordion); Kevin Leahy (vibraphone); Rob Henson (upright bass); Matt Mangano, Mike D. Steele, David LaBruyere (electric bass); Gerry Hansen (drums); Kenny Malone (bells).
Not surprisingly, Shawn Mullins' association with Sony didn't last long. His sophomore release for the label never found its intended audience, and with eclectic singer/songwriters not exactly in vogue in 2005, he found a more comfortable and logical home at Vanguard. Here was a company that thrived on, and had successful experience with, promoting other artists with idiosyncratic folk and folk-rock styles similar to Mullins. The feeling was mutual, since Mullins delivers a gem of an album with 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor.
With acoustic tracks recorded at the titular New Orleans studio, pre-Hurricane Katrina, Mullins has crafted a diverse offering that encompasses folk, rock, Celtic, and country, often interlocking in the same tune. He aims for early Black Crowes territory on the gospel-laced "Faith," and gives a personal spin to a self-penned murder ballad "Cold Black Heart," which is dominated by his work on charango, an Andean mandolin. The mandolin also plays a prominent role in "Homemade Wine," a moody story-song ballad about leaving town that takes advantage of Mullins' deep, expressive voice. "All Fall Down" finds its rocking heart in the Beatles' "I Want You," especially as it builds in intensity with circular chords that accentuate the melody. The disc's first single, the harder-edged "Beautiful Wreck," is also better than anything on the short-lived Thorns' project, a band in which Mullins shared the stage with Matthew Sweet and Pete Droge (Droge helped co-write the track). Mullins goes traditional religious on the waltz-timed "Lay Down Your Swords, Boys," which culminates in full Salvation-Army-band mode with backing vocals. Mullins taps into his inner James Taylor on the bluesy "Solitaire," and closes out the album with a moving version of "House of the Rising Sun" that builds from acoustic to electric instrumentation as the singer interestingly takes the original female voice of the protagonist. The song seems to be his tribute to New Orleans, a city whose dusky atmosphere has subtly contributed to Shawn Mullins' most poignant, cohesive, and diverse album yet. ~ Hal Horowitz

Professional Reviews

Uncut (p.88) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A]s the rendition of old warhorse 'House Of The Rising Sun' demonstrates, he can still imbue his material with grit and passion."

Dirty Linen (p.51) - "All in all, it's a good mix, with many interesting aspects to note -- like the Indian rhythms on the murder ballad 'Cold Black Heart'..."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.100) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his is fine singer-songwriter Americana, particularly good on ballads."

Album: 9Th Ward Pickin' Parlor
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Blue As You	More Info...
2)	Beautiful Wreck	More Info...
3)	Cold Black Heart	More Info...
4)	Faith	More Info...
5)	Homemade Wine	More Info...
6)	Talkin' Goin' To Alaska Blues	More Info...
7)	We Could Go And Start Again	More Info...
8)	Kelly's Song	More Info...
9)	Find Love	More Info...
10)	All Fall Down	More Info...
11)	Lay Down Your Sword, Boys	More Info...
12)	Solitaire	More Info...
13)	House Of the Rising Sun	More Info...

Album: 9Th Ward Pickin' Parlor
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Blue As You	More Info...
2)	Beautiful Wreck	More Info...
3)	Cold Black Heart	More Info...
4)	Faith	More Info...
5)	Homemade Wine	More Info...
6)	Talkin' Goin' To Alaska Blues	More Info...
7)	We Could Go And Start Again	More Info...
8)	Kelly's Song	More Info...
9)	Find Love	More Info...
10)	All Fall Down	More Info...
11)	Lay Down Your Sword, Boys	More Info...
12)	Solitaire	More Info...
13)	House Of the Rising Sun	More Info...