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Our Review

Erik Darling's Revenge of the Christmas Tree presents modern folk music with a bluegrass soul. Anyone who has wrestled mightily with a messy, fresh-cut tree at Christmastime will identify with the woes described in the title number. With the exception of the traditional Bright Morning Stars, this album essentially presents all new material, and it is well-crafted, catchy, and professionally executed. On occasion, Darling takes liberties with well-known carols or texts. This is gutsy country-folk fare that will entertain a broad audience.

At least half of Revenge of the Christmas Tree presents a sly tongue-in-cheek attitude that is free-flowing fun. The other half is slightly more serious holiday fare, but in the warm-hearted, story-telling vein. This is just the sort of music that I would hope to hear at my neighborhood pub--a seasoned, guitar-strumming artist with a rough & rugged voice that readily pumps lively character into folk lyrics, and a highly-skilled, small ensemble providing superb support. I especially enjoyed how Darling (with P. street) put the classic story The Night Before Christmas into song format. This is the longest cut, and it regales listeners with an ongoing "Doodle-Dang" refrain. Fun!

For the last track, Darling freely adapts Here We Come A-Wassailing with new lyrics, making it his own Love and Joy. It is a warm and fitting close to fine folk album.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Erik Darling: Vocals, 12-String, Banjo, 6-String Guitar
Logan Matheny: Drums
Chris Stamey: Bass, Wurlitzer, Mandolin
Jon Gagan: Bass (Track 10)
Ryan Anthony: Drums (Track 10)

Recorded at Modern Recording
Engineer: Chris Stamey
Matered by Brent Lambert
"The Dit-Dit Song" recorded by Scott Cadenasso (Santa Fe, NM)
Cover drawing: Erik Darling
Graphic design: Chris Eselgroth

Erik Darling

Revenge of the Christmas Tree

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Track List