Search - The Edlos :: A Cappella Country

The Bad Boys of a cappella

Allen Corben | Pasadena, CA USA | 07/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Edlos are long-time staples of the San Francisco a cappella music scene, and have a reputation for doing material not obvious for a cappella (they do opera as well as covering "Aqualung" by Jethro Tull; 'nuff said) and for a strongly theatrical stage show.Say "a cappella" and folks usually think of of doo-wop, sacred choral, or barbershop, if they don't look at you blankly. "Country," with its twangy tales of lost loves, dead dogs, and sad drifting truck drivers rarely comes to mind. Leave it to the Bad Boys to put out an album of a cappella Country music.This is a strong album of unexpected and beutiful music, with diverse songs by folks like Randy Newman and Van Morrison, mostly arranged by The Edlos themselves. Of course, it's all punctuated by comedy. Don't expect anything less from folks who write a self-parody like "Born to Yodel" on the only Country a cappella album to hit the shelves since the cows came home.What most people think of as country music is actually from a certain period in the fifties and sixties. The Edlos DO do some songs which draw deeply from that school; "Your Cheatin' Heart", the Hank Williams classic, is a good example). Fans who know the Edlos' _Wintersongs_ album will hear the foundation of that album's "Big Santa (The Visit)" in this album's "Big Bad John" which comes off as if it were an American folk song from the Paul Bunyan period. Nothing like a true bass to bring out the lead on a song like this.Right beside that are songs which will be enjoyed by those who would never listen to any song about a cowboy. Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey", while still infused with longing, shows this much more contemporary flavor of Country music. "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today" is Randy Newman's beautiful treatment of compassion for other people, given a wonderful arrangement by the Edlos' own Ed Cohn, full of bell-chords and far from the sound of steel guitar and banjo. If you are a fan of a cappella, or a fan of country, this collection adds breadth and depth, and is a wonderful listen."