Jay Farrar, Yim Yames, Anders Parker, Will Johnson: New Multitudes

     

    Originally announced as a Jay Farrar solo album, New Multitudes gained steam, and collaborators, quickly.  Created as a Woody Guthrie tribute album, the various artists were handpicked by Farrar and Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter.  These artists were carefully selected to add modern instrumentation to Guthrie's posthumously unearthed, handwritten, archives. 

     The group unifies on this project amazingly.   Their collective proclivity towards alt-country, New Multitudes has a predominantly folk backbone, but there is clearly mutual respect towards each member's personal style.  The stylistic differences are refreshing to the listener, as haunting strings transition seamlessly into jangly, gritty, street rock.  The member's contrasting musical genres allow for the perfect background for Guthrie's words.  Each note is created with a specific participant in mind.  The four members did an irreproachable job putting the perfect instrumentation to the lyrics, breathing life into the words and making Guthrie seem as the fifth member of the band.  When taking on an endeavor, there is a risk of overdoing it, turning Guthrie's words into rambling, aimless songs.  New Multitudes flawlessly work Guthrie's words into the music, always conscious of when each song should end.  The end result is as unique and remarkable as the man they pay tribute to.  Woody would be proud.  Easily one of the best releases of 2012.