Ned Farr & The Good Red Road Ruminations
Ned Farr & The Good Red Road started their journey in New York City in 1993. After 30 years of building a foundation as an Americana/folk-rock band, with their new album Ruminations, out October 2, their signature style takes more of a jazz fusion, jazz rock turn with an air of psychedelia. Topically, the album is 8 songs that consider a breakup, each from a different perspective.
Rhythm sets the tone for the album with “Love,” with its extended intro that takes it nice and easy, and touches of melodies, licks, and a combination jazz psychedelia feel wrapped in a Steely Dan vibe. This is the style of Ned Farr & the Good Red Road. “Float above it all / Staring at the ceiling / Suddenly recall, in a blur of alcohol / Howling at this feeling / Once bitten you’ll be twice as shy /
You get mauled it multiplies / So just let it ring… Not answering.”
“Quantum” pushes with some sustained keys and a popping snappy rhythm. In this one, there’s a wish for things to return to the way they once were, somehow, perhaps in a parallel universe: “There’s a world where we’re happy again, running free in the quantum fields.”
On the title track, the snappy rhythm continues through an exploration of the thoughts that race and keep you up at night: “how could she say what she said to me? stop. sleep… ruminating while the world’s asleep.” Thematically, there would have to be a track about the advice people give you – don’t be a lap dog, don’t chase, don’t try to or beg to get them back : “Be careful what you wish for tonight / Cause when the dog chases the car / He gets taken for a ride / Be careful what you wish for tonight / Cause when the dog catches the car Who survives the bite?” “Dog” features bright guitar strings that reach back to their Americana roots, but the keys pull it together with the rest of the album’s sound and then the horns bring the jazz pop all the way back in.
In “Pendulum” the analogy of the push – pull of a relationship is broadened to include the whole world and the current state of affairs in a heavier rock style number: “May you live your days / In interesting times / When history repeats / Or sneaks up as it rhymes / Try and find the center / Try and find the line / In this balance of darkness / And the light of the divine.” It’s intense and uncomfortably accurate.
Album close “Pirouette” is a plea for love after one is lost, set to a lovely, somewhat spacey. The restraint holds throughout, what begins with piano and moves through some cinematic string-centric pacing, and ends with honest vocals, all in a expansive spacious and thoughtful arrangement that lasts 11 minutes: “All of us need to find an answer / Another soul another life to share / Spinning until finding the hand of a dancer who takes you there.” As the album closes there’s a sense of peace and return to self.
The songs are arranged with the kind of care that makes it all sound effortless, played with expertise, and the harmonies are tight and stacked as they soar and dip. There’s always restraint, and the songs never race or showboat. The theme of a breakup from every angle is very thoroughly explored, with most of the songs a perfect fit for the thoughts that race through our minds into the wee hours.
A very enjoyable album. There are touches of Steely Dan-esque and Khruangbin-esque style in an overall very unique, very relatable collection. More details are available here on their website: https://thegoodredroad.band/home
Musicians on the album are Ned Farr on lead vocals, guitar, keys, piano (on NEST); Jon Ossman on bass, and lead vocals on “Dog”; Cenovia Cummins on violin, mandolin, keys; additional guitar ambience on “Nest”; Jim Olbrys on lead guitar; Joe Casalino on drums and percussion; and Evan Richey on cello.
Ruminations was produced by Ned Farr and Evan Richey; engineered by Evan Richey; and mastered by Chris Longwood (Khruangbin, Spoon).
Songs were written by Ned Farr.