The start of “I Wish”, the opener for the Captain Ledge Band’s third studio release Rumors of the Great White Skunk, vividly reflects the intimacy and expertise the band brings to traditional music. The spartan arrangement highlights Jeana and Cliff Downing’s vocal chemistry balanced well against the stripped down musical backing. The lyric is relatively simple but gives us a view of the duo’s inherent optimism. “Bucket Mouth”, the album’s second tune, is a more fully realized number with big acoustic guitar chords and a wide-open vocal from Jeana Downing. She primarily leads the vocal attack on the album, but we shouldn’t diminish Cliff Downing’s vocal contributions as he adds a tremendous amount to this song and other tunes included with Rumors of the Great White Skunk.
“Skeleton Key” is another of the album’s tunes thanks to the strong marriage of Jeana Downing’s voice and great lyrics that tackle familiar themes with idiosyncratic language. The guitar work is especially memorable with this tune and how it pulls off the expected with such seamless aplomb that makes the song go over so well. “Waiting on Angels” has one of the album’s strongest narrative thrusts alongside solid acoustic guitar work and a message that, thankfully, never comes off as too heavy-handed. The album’s production is particularly effective at making tunes like this stand out.
“In the Middle” is another high point on Rumors of the Great White Skunk, but it likewise ranks as one of the more straight-forward tunes on this album. The acoustic guitar work on this song really works well and provides a solid counterpoint for the vocal without ever over-shadowing it. The plaintive title “I Love You”, in a way, does a disservice to the depths that the Captain Ledge Band explores with this tune. The lyrics are expertly tailored to the song’s uses and the vocal does an exemplary job of bringing them to life without ever trying to vie with the musical arrangement. “I Remember” has a similar tenor and directness, but a stronger melody at the song’s heart. It’s another illustration, as well, of how stripped down musical arrangements make this album so memorable.
The last two tracks, “Simple Things” and “Mimosa Tree”, share musical similarities, but the lyrical imagery of the album’s finale “Mimosa Tree” is quite good and the vocals emphasize its excellence. “Simple Things” is a direct tune, but nonetheless leaves its mark on listeners as well. This third album from the Captain Ledge Band introduces some important new and original material to the band’s live set and, in this listener’s view, solidifies Jeana and Cliff Downing’s position as one of the best Americana acts working today. Rumors of the Great White Skunk is one of the best roots-oriented releases in recent memory.
-review by Jodi Marxbury
