American Myth
Label: Verve Forecast
Rated: NONE
WorkNameSort: American Myth
The name sounds like a Borscht Belt comic, but the sound is pure Americana, Dylan and The BandÐstyle. The organ pushes the harmonica, which slides into the acoustic guitars, which lie back with a lumbering beat that leaves enough swing for the lyrics to ride fast and easy. Expert session guys drummer Pete Thomas (Costello), bassist Davey Faragher (Costello, Hiatt), pedal steel player Greg Leisz cut the tracks primarily live with Greene, leading them with a bluesy swagger that can menace (“Cold Black Devil/14 Miles”) or turn gentle (“Just As Well,” “Never Satisfied”) or catapult into straight Dylan emulation (the 10-minute “Supersede” combines Bob’s “Chimes of Freedom” with “Memphis Blues Again”). It’s hard to say that this 26-year-old Californian has grown with each of his four studio albums, but only because he was pretty much on top of his game when he started.
This article appears in Mar 15-21, 2006.