Lee Harvey Osmond - A Quiet Evil
by Adrian Huggins
published: 3 / 4 / 2010
Label:
Latent Recordings
Format: CD
intro
Stunning debut album from self-proclaimed acid-folk act and Canadian roots rock supergroup, Lee Harvey Oswald
Acid folk is the self-proclaimed genre with which Lee Harvey Osmond creator Tom Wilson describes his band. In listening to ‘A Quiet Evil’ that’s a mighty fine summing up of the sort of music and vibe these Canadians conjure up. Born out of Toronto, the band is a supergroup of roots rock artists from "North of the border", including members of Blackie and the Rodeo King and Cowboy Junkies amongst others. Many different musicians have lent their skills and souls to this stunning collection. A sort of sleazy, smooth feel flows throughout the songs, giving it the sort of sound which would be perfect for relaxing after the heaviest weekend of your life in some far off desert setting in which you’ve literally been up for days and had an absolute blast, but in which the ‘real world’ still seems a million miles away, but the craziness is settling and not quite over. This feel is best brought out in the likes of the lounge-style ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ and the country-tinged ‘I’m Going to Stay That Way’, both of which make perfect background music. Wilson’s voice is incredibly captivating, relaxing and worldly all at the same time. He gives off the impression of someone who’s been there and done that and has a story to tell, much in the same way Tom Waits does, only in a much more relaxing, subtle way. Some of the songs branch out and have more of country rock feel. There is even a little bit of rockabilly in there, particularly on ‘Queen Bee’, ‘Parkland’ and ‘Summer Girl’, all of which still manage to relax and captivate in equal measures. Another stand out track is ‘Lucifer's Blues’ which manages to sound somehow like a Charlie Daniels band song sung by Johnny Cash. 'A Quiet Evil' finishes on an upbeat note with a cover of Lou Reed's ‘I Can’t Stand It’ which sounds like it could have the entire Lee Harvey Osmond band playing on there. Just the kick you need to get your head back on, have a coffee and go back out the ‘real world’.
Track Listing:-
1 The Love of One2 Cuckoo's Nest
3 Queen Bee
4 Blade of Grass
5 I'm Going To Stay That Way
6 Lucifer's Blues
7 Parkland
8 Summer Girl
9 Angels In the Wilderness
10 I Can't Stand It
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