Marah

Angels of Destruction! | Yep Roc
By MATT ASHARE  |  January 14, 2008
3.5 3.5 Stars
inside_MARAH---ANGELS-OF-DE
From the banjo picking that opens the album to the jazzy horn section that colors “Can’t Take It with You . . . ” to the barrelhouse pianos, the bluesy harmonicas, and the various bells, shakers, and percussive embellishments woven into the rootsy fabric of Angels of Destruction, Marah often seem on the verge of overdoing it on their sixth album. And that’s before brothers Dave and Serge Bielanko even open their mouths to unburden their souls of the beauty and sadness, horror and hope, despondency and redemption that thread through these 11 tracks. At its heart, Angels is a tribute to the lasting glory of gritty, Stonesy guitars, slashing through the murk of “Coughing Up Blood” or the tension of “Old Time Tickin’ Away,” cutting to the core of the melancholy “Angels on a Passing Train,” or just chugging along with the swing of “Wild West Love Song.” The Bielankos sensed the same darkness on the edge of town that Springsteen discovered in his younger days back when they first emerged as rocking prophets from the streets of Philly. Now firmly settled in Brooklyn, Marah (whose membership changes from album to album) do sound older and wiser. And their songs of experience suggest they spent some time exploring that darkness, only to have found the light on the other side. “Now that we know restlessness, how come we keep finding new ways to smile,” Serge croons on “Blue But Cool.” Or, as the Bielankos nail it on the rousing outro of the title song, “Angels of destruction/The angel of redemption’s got you beat.”

Marah + Adam and Dave’s Bloodline + *AM Stereo | Middle East downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge | January 19 | 617.864.EAST
| More


Most Popular
ARTICLES BY MATT ASHARE
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   SEND IN THE CLOWNS  |  July 02, 2009
    The New York Post got to resurrect its priceless "Wacko Jacko" headline. Barbara Walters scored Super Bowl-level ratings without having to lift a pretty little finger. And Michael Jackson, well, no matter how you slice it, he got screwed royally.
  •   ARRESTING DEVELOPMENTS  |  September 16, 2008
    Lack of talent, charisma, and/or personality can prevent a good band from achieving greatness — but too much of a good thing can also be a problem.
  •   ROCK THERAPIES  |  July 22, 2008
    A little over four years ago, the Boston music scene lost one of its cuter couples when singer-songwriter Blake Hazard and guitarist/producer John Dragonetti left town for LA.
  •   FORTUNATE ONE  |  July 07, 2008
    It was no surprise to find Chris Brokaw in Hawaii last week, just two Saturdays before he’s due back in Cambridge to pull a double shift upstairs at the Middle East.
  •   BOSTON MUSIC NEWS: JULY 11, 2008  |  July 08, 2008
    The New Year, a band the Kadanes started with Chris Brokaw on drums a decade ago, are still a going concern.

 See all articles by: MATT ASHARE