The Highway Sound “What Henry Ford Forgot“ (Nine O’Diamonds 2006)

Big Brooklyn Americana

Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Jay Zasa’s band, The Highway Sound play in the tradition of The Band, Wilco, Fairport Convention (!) and Bonnie Prince Billy. Is this a good thing? Dunno, but it’s a mixed bunch of influences that’s for sure.

‘Alpo Blues’ opens the CD and includes the immortal lines “If the universe was tonic, the mind was gin and lime, I’d lay back in my La-z-boy and stay drunk all the time”. Class.

An amended version of the traditional song ‘Railroad Bill’ is featured but they also add their own interpretation with ‘Railroad Bill’s Return’ as he winds backwards looking for the girl he left behind. Their version of ‘Railroad Bill’ is definitely on a par with Dave Alvin’s, although they’re both very different. They also cover the toe tapping traditional songs ‘The Mermaid’ (in a Cajun/Louisiana style) and ‘John Riley’ (in straight forward Americana – if such a thing exists) with mixed results.

The primary focus of the album is Zasa's voice which is distinctive and slightly off pitch and is allegedly reminiscent of Michael Stipe of REM. I suppose there is some similarity but you have to dig fairly deep to make the connection. It doesn’t jump out at ya – well it didn’t for me that’s for sure. Secondary are the lyrics which at times are pretty surreal. Just check ‘em out to see what I mean. They’re hard to categorise, but I’m sure Zasa knows what they mean.

Zasa is backed up by an efficient ensemble playing what he’s christened "big Brooklyn Americana." Mat Kane (of the Doc Marshalls) features on violin particularly on ‘Butter Sculpture’ and ‘John Riley’ where he’s very much to the fore, whilst the piano keys are plunked throughout the album by Andy Bienen (co-screenwriter of Boys Don't Cry - the story of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female).

Tracks four and five have been transposed on the CD case running order. So in fact ‘The Red Car’ comes before ‘Deep Gap’ but no matter they’re both good slices of Americana. The lyrics on ‘Deep Gap’ seem to be mercilessly squeezed into the available melody and there’s no room for error when Zasa is reciting them. Hope he manages to do it well live and it would be interesting to see how a quart fits into a pint pot as he seems to have achieved on this track.

‘The Deserter’ opens with some great whiny guitar which continues through the track, but Zasa’s voice doesn’t really set any of the tracks alight. I suppose if you like the whinging of REM then you’ll enjoy this, but it is an acquired taste.

Closer ‘I’m Gonna Miss me’ also contains some interesting lyrics. “I’m gonna miss me, I’m gonna miss me, I’m gonna miss me when I’m long gone”. You might Jay; but will we?

Date review added:  Monday, March 19, 2007
Reviewer:  Phil Edwards
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  The Highway Sound website