By David Schultz

Released in the tail end of 2006, The Parish Festival's debut album, Handshakes & Heartaches, seemed to slip through the cracks, missing the critical acclaim it deserved. A quirky trio from Davenport, Iowa, The Parish Festival mix an easygoing country sound featuring banjo and fiddle with some jazzy rhythms and a distinctly alt-rock mindset to create a bit of Midwestern cabaret that owes as much to Neil Young as it does to Jane's Addiction.

The Jane's Addiction comparison becomes apparent once Jamey Cummins' starts to warble over Andy Rappel and Ryan Neubauer's syncopated beats. Cummins shares Perry Farrell's ability to get a wavery, near-boozy quality out of his voice conveying both wisdom and vulnerability. He also manages to work in some enjoyable energetic banjo work on the opening pair of tracks, "Handshakes & Heartaches" and "Lullagoodbyes." On "Too Many Wars" and "Song For You," the absence of Cummins' banjo allows Rappel's bass and Neubauer's drums to take on a more central role, giving the band the feel of an expertly honed lounge band. They can also put out some straightforward rock and roll as evidenced by the technically misnamed "Instrumental Track."

New releases come flying onto the shelves (or more realistically onto the Internet) with such rapidity, many fine releases get lost in the onslaught. Search out The Parish Festival's wonderfully fresh Handshakes & Heartaches. It deserves a listen.

Labels: The Parish Festival