Bob Frank and John Murry – World Without End (CD)

“Little Wiley Harpe, 1803” is the first track of the disc, and the song seems to blend together the Outlaws with Warren Zevon. The track itself starts with a strong vocal –presence, before the brooding instrumentation comes to a more focal point. Still, the vocals that open the track should be enough of a reason to keep individuals focused in to Frank and Murry. The track is one of the longest on the disc at four and a half minutes, but this will not dampen anyone that may be listening in’s fervor for the act. They are that catchy, and by the time that “Little Wiley Harpe, 1803” ends, listeners are salivating for more. It is not that the vocals are compelling (they are), but rather that the storytelling nature of the act is so far beyond anything else individuals have heard. There iss not much in the way of instrumentation present on any of the tracks during “World Without End”, but this can be forgiven with the Twain-like storytelling of Frank and Murry here.

Hell, even with this country-sounding approach, Frank and Murry find space in their “Joaquin Murietta, 1853” to give an accordion a major spot in the creation of the compelling arrangements. It is not easy to draw comparisons between Frank and Murry and anyone else on the music scene right now. The only things that are coming up would have to be America and Neil Young, but Frank and Murry come with an earlier-sounding aura than either of the aforementioned musicians. The different racks all weave together a narrative that could be released as a book easily; it is this nuance to Frank and Murry that sets them off from practically anyone else in music today. This disc may be a few months old, but chances are good that individuals will be listening to “World Without End” until the second the band releases their next album.

The replay value of “World Without End” is tremendous; there are so many layers present in every track that it would be a lie if an individual said they “got” everything that the two stars have placed onto a track. Give the disc a spin if you have any love for a traditional American style that simultaneously has the values of yesteryear as the music touches individuals in the current. Frank and Murry have succeeded here.

Top Tracks: Tupelo, Mississippi, 1936; Madeline, 1796

Rating: 7.5/10

Bob Frank and John Murry – World Without End / 2006 Bowstring / 10 Tracks / http://www.bobfrankandjuhnmurry.com / Reviewed 28 April 2007

[JMcQ]