Nikki Grossman and Joe Hart make up The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, an old-time country duo from Viroqua, Wisconsin, in the Ocooch Mountains. They came together in 2013 through their mutual passion for the forgotten music of the old days. Their brand of old-timey music is straight out of the first half of the 20th century and perfectly at home in the first half of the 21st century. Their repertoire includes inventive reinterpretations of close-harmony country, early western sing, pre-war vaudeville, Midwestern Scandinavian fiddle tunes, Tejano torch songs, and classic country. Grossman and Hart are gifted songwriters. Their songs are heartfelt, catchy, humorous, and somehow old-timey and brand new all at the same time. “Ocooch Mountain Home” was released in March 2015, and contains only a few cover songs, which compliment eight original songs and tunes. The album was recorded in a 120 year old converted church in Wisconsin.The album opens with the love song, “Get A Good Grip On My Heart”. The fiddle is front and center on this track, and it has a 1920s sound to it. It’s a fun, simple love song. Grossman sings the gist of what the song’s about in the chorus, “Just get a good grip on my heart/ If you feel it falling dead don’t let it start/ Tie it up, chain it down, don’t let it slip around/ Don’t let it flutter when I’m talking to another.” “The Broke (Ass) Waltz” meanwhile has an Appalachian sound to it, with fantastic fiddle and guitar parts. This track makes you feel like you’re in the hills back in the 1800s. Another Appalachian flavored track is the instrumental “The Toothbrush Ho-Down”.
“Kiss Away” is a beautiful country song, that’s slow and tender. It features the acoustic guitar as the main instrumentation and beautiful soft harmonies. The tragic tale about a real life train wreck, “Ballad of Will Wing”, delivers the tale with an upbeat melody. The use of the lap steel and accordion on some tracks add texture to the album. Grossman takes the lead on the Spanish language “Medalla de Dios”, a track where the accordion takes the listener south of the border. The song is full of passion and features an outstanding vocal from Grossman. The lap steel on the country song “Beneath a Neon Star in a Honky Tonk”, flavors the song and underscores the variety of style that the duo can bring.
The standout tracks on “Ocooch Mountain Home” are the title track and “The Crazy Rag”. The title track, “Ocooch Mountain Home”, is a tender duet about the band’s homestead. It feature superb yodel parts that really adds a unique quality to the song. The fun and playful love song “The Crazy Rag”, gives Vincent Van Gogh a run for his money. The song features the kazoo and lyrics filled with imagery. It’s just a really fun song, very playful, and the lyrics are absolutely hilarious!
This album is an old-timey masterpiece, containing beautiful harmonies and excellent instrumentation. The album is textured and filled with energy, enthusiasm, and humor. If you’re someone longing for the music of yesteryear, this is definitely the album for you. It’s a must listen!
