Reviews
Artist:Mark Germino Album: Midnight Carnival
Label: Red Parlor
Tracks: 14
Website: https://www.markgermino.com
Like many, I first came to Folk-Americana artist Mark Germino back in the late 80's and early 90's through his massive airplay hit 'Rex Bob Lowenstein', but I remember also loving his albums from around that time, 'Caught In The Act Of Being Ourselves' and 'Radartown'. Sadly, I wore them out on vinyl so his music became lost to my ears until his latest release came up for review and this precipitated a nostalgic trip through a back catalogue that has more than stood the test of time.
Whilst by no means a recluse, information about Mark Germino is fairly scarce which is not helped by his lengthy gaps between recordings. Somewhat ironically, his Fan Club page on Facebook was set up in part because of the paucity of news about him on the internet!
It does seem generally accepted that Mark originally worked as a poet before moving into songwriting and then took up residence in Nashville, initially writing for others, before being offered a recording contract in his own right. In addition to the albums mentioned above, 1995 saw the release of 'Rank And File' followed by 'Atomic Candlestick' in 2006, and Mark has continued to write and tour throughout the years. Along the way, his songs have been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill and Kenny Chesney amongst others.
The 14 tracks on 2021's 'Midnight Carnival' are all Mark Germino originals. Recorded in Nashville he is accompanied by a core band of splendid musicians who have all played with country's finest, Tom Comet bass, Rick Lonow drums, percussion, Kenny Vaughan acoustic and electric guitar and Michael Webb accordion, electric piano, mandolin, organ and piano whilst all contribute backing vocals.
'Traveling Man' rolls in on a glorious accordion riff, swiftly doubled on the electric guitar before Mark's gruff half spoke-half sung vocal fairly spits the lyrics out as they roll and tumble over one another. 'Ettress Rolls On' slows the pace slightly but the words are just as bitingly visual, "First year waiting tables down in pine bluff, red necks acting like she wasn't good enough".
At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious with Mark Germino, his lyrics throughout this album are absolutely stunning - not poetry as such, but poetic in delivery, acuity and observation with never a word wasted. Similarly stunning is the band, with everything again pared back to the bare essentials that allows each instrument to grab equal billing with every lick, riff and rhythm track; truly masterful.
At fourteen songs this album is a long but very rewarding listen and whilst the changes in Mark's vocal are fairly limited, the bands dexterity and creative arrangements bring great variety to the tracks here.
Amongst a record full of stand outs, personal favourites for me are the courtly paced 'Blessed Are The Ones', the almost funky hoe-down riffing of 'Tennessee Trash Disclosure' and the pretty much completely spoken six minute epic which is 'The Greatest Song Ever Written', but no spoiler alert with this one!
As things draw to a close 'Author Of My Journey' is another exercise in lyric writing, "I'm the author of my journey, I'm a slave that once was sold, I'm the crowning prince and I would dance, in this rusted armour coat" whilst last track 'Until The Fat Man Swings' leaves us on a high with a salutary baseball tale rich with punning lyrics and sharp fiddle fills, great fun.
Well this album may have been a long time coming for Mark Germino fans, or just lovers of good music, but it certainly delivers on all fronts. 'Midnight Carnival' is simply a great record, chock full of fine songwriting, beautifully played, arranged and recorded - my record of 2021 so far.
Thoroughly recommended.
Paul Jackson
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