Press
about the band:
Rutherford
CD Release article in Vox Magazine.
Get
In Early
- Columbia Tribune
Review
of Mapping Out Chaos by Peter Thelen of Expose
Magazine.
With
a constant stream of me-too independently produced new releases
coming in, all demanding time to be heard and reviewed, it is indeed
refreshing when one among them has something genuinely different
or
unique to offer the listener. The debut album by this Missouri based
quintet is such a case, capably fronted by two excellent singer-songwriters
(Ruth Acuff and Jeff Mueller, both doubling on guitar and bass)
operating in a roots-rock mode, fusing elements of folk, pop, and
rock, with plenty of originality, hooks and riffs. Sometimes the
foundation of a piece is acoustic guitar, other times a bit heavier
rock drive, although it's evident via the compositions, lyrics,
singing and harmonies, and overall presentation, that the genesis
of each of the twelve cuts is the singular vision of a songwriter,
with the group arrangements built around that initial concept. Acuff's
voice is very distinctive and suits her material perfectly, perhaps
a bit like Buffy Sainte-Marie without all the excessive vibrato;
Mueller's voice is commanding and soulful on the three tracks where
he sings lead, though on most tracks he's harmonizing with Acuff.
But it's trumpeter Ed Watson who gives the arrangements their most
unusual element; his instrument is the lead melodic foil, offering
something to complement the vocals without drawing attention from
them, as well as turning in a deft solo here and there. Everything
here works together superbly. An outstanding debut.
Peter Thelen
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