Yarn - Elmore Magazine

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ADVERTISEMENT Search Elmore NEWS REVIEWS FEATURES CONTESTS PHOTOS CALENDAR MERCH ADVERTISE ADVERTISEMENT 95 Artist: Yarn Album: This Is The Year Label: Ardsley Music/Red Bush Records Release Date: 05/27/2016 BUY DIGITAL BUY PHYSICAL ALBUM REVIEWS Yarn This Is The Year Album Reviews | June 7th, 2016 Yarn’s latest spin, This Is The Year, speaks of the many personal challenges the group has been through recently. Breakups, lineup changes and touring inspired lead singer/songwriter Blake Christiana to pen timeless tunes in the rst person. Yarn has lived these tales like well-worn jeans, a bit frayed at the seams perhaps, but hanging tough and looking forward to the future with optimism. Christiana is a talented craftsman, and his catchy choruses are ripe for radio. Sweet vocal harmonies and tasty guitar licks by Rod Hohl round out each track with a feel so classic they leave you swearing you’ve heard them before. But this is a fresh batch of material by a great band backed by a solid rhythm section. The rst cut is a mellow, romantic ballad that steadily builds to a mid tempo clip and sweetly asks, “Oh Carolina won’t you rescue my heart? Baby please, I’m begging for a

Transcript of Yarn - Elmore Magazine

Page 1: Yarn - Elmore Magazine

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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95Artist:     YarnAlbum:     This Is The YearLabel:     Ardsley Music/Red Bush RecordsRelease Date:     05/27/2016

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ALBUM REVIEWS

YarnThis Is The YearAlbum Reviews | June 7th, 2016

Yarn’s latest spin, This Is The Year,speaks of the many personalchallenges the group has beenthrough recently. Breakups, lineupchanges and touring inspired leadsinger/songwriter Blake Christianato pen timeless tunes in the �rstperson. Yarn has lived these taleslike well-worn jeans, a bit frayed atthe seams perhaps, but hangingtough and looking forward to thefuture with optimism.

Christiana is a talented craftsman,and his catchy choruses are ripe forradio. Sweet vocal harmonies andtasty guitar licks by Rod Hohl roundout each track with a feel so classicthey leave you swearing you’veheard them before. But this is a fresh batch of material by a great band backed by asolid rhythm section.

The �rst cut is a mellow, romantic ballad that steadily builds to a mid tempo clip andsweetly asks, “Oh Carolina won’t you rescue my heart? Baby please, I’m begging for a

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

new start. I’m crying, I hope it’s not too far, to my Carolina Heart.” I met with Christianabefore Yarn’s show at Brooklyn Bowl in April, and he explained how love and marriagebrought him to Asheville, North Carolina, hence the title of this tune. At times, hisvocal style is reminiscent of Dwight Yoakam, but never derivative. The title track is asunny country rocker that begins with the chorus and hooks the listener immediately,“This is the year, we’re gonna make that change. This is the year, we’ll start all overagain. This is the year, we’re all gonna come out winning. We’re gonna raise a glass, toa new beginning.” And this is the optimism that permeates this fantastic, feel goodalbum. “I’m The Man” begins with a Texan, boot scootin’ beat and some serious twang.With vigorous call and response between him and the band, Christiana commands,“Oh everybody sing, I’m a man! I’m a king! Oh everybody sing, I’m all those things.” Theresult is infectious. If you’re driving in a car, you’re gonna �nd yourself singing outloud. “Now You’re Gone” is a country rocker that kicks into high gear straightaway witha two chord ri� and a Stonesy feel. Yarn’s weave of acoustic and electric guitar tonesbrings to mind Some Girls, as do the playful, naughty lyrics “Now you’re gone and I’malright. I’m gonna check you o�, and I’m gonna get so damn high, I won’t everremember your name.” The next track “Sweet Dolly” is a sincere love letter to DollyParton and her many talents. “I’m in love with a country queen. Can’t get her out of myhead, can’t get her out of my dreams, my sweet Dolly.” There are 12 tracks in all, eachsuccessfully entwining the thread between country and rock to create the warm, sonictapestry that is Yarn. Highly recommended.

-Mike Cobb

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One Response

Ron Heine says:

June 9, 2016 at 5:49 pm

You got it it’s an upbeat album that I’ve been waiting for Blake to doHaving followed them for years this one is fresh and a hit for meCongrats boys your on your way!

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