The Georgian Company
Side A EP
Those sonsabitches! The Georgian Company just fucked up my New Year's resolution, which was to knock the stack of CDs for review on my desk down to workable level. Instead of blazing my way through the mountain, I am buried by one damn song which is at this moment repeating itself beneath a tapping of keys, a part of me elated beyond reason and another part realizing that I will never change, resolution or no. I mean, how can I make it through a mountain when I can't even make it through a five-song EP, for Chrissakes!
That one damn song is Apology, available for as of this writing, an offer I suggest you take. Complete with slightly distorted pedal steel and tremeloed-out guitar chords, it is an anthemic ballad which I swear I've heard before because it is nothing new, yet it sucked me in like a top-of-the-line Hoover. First time through, the pedal steel and guitar caught my ear but it was the background vocals which pushed it over the top--- a simple, atmospheric Hoo-oo, Oo-oo-ooooo of harmonic heaven. It only happens twice and is all too short, but that is the magic of it. Two short blips in a three and a half minute song is just not enough, so I find myself playing it again and again to sate my thirst. I'm wearing out the needle on my computer.
Apology is not the only song of note, either. They kick it all off with an upbeat pop tune skirting the edges of Country Rock a la Jackson Browne titled Everything To Gain, a song written around the voice of frontman George Irwin. Neck deep in pedal steel (and mighty fine pedal steel at that), it rides the soft rocking beat front to back. Meter continues the trend, though a bit more Pop and with a slightly heavier beat. Apology anchors the EP next and gives way to airy, country-ish tearjerker Trainwreck, supported again by atmospheric and haunting harmonies.
Seventeen, structured a bit differently than the previous four, looks back toward the Just Guns days, the previous group which included Irwin and pedal steel player Phil McJunkins as well as at least one Hyink (Topher or Travis) and Georgian keyboardist Chris 9. They rocked a little harder and stepped outside the formula box just enough make me wonder why they didn't get more respect. Their Secrets/Spotlights album (2006) has some good moments. I probably would have bought if I had found it back then.
These guys aren't for cowboys and kids, either. Check out the store on their website. They offer a VIP Club package which includes a T-shirt, a YIP Laminate Pass good for one year from date of purchase (which includes access to exclusive and early downloads and, I assume, to the backstage happenings). And they throw in a shiny new Side A EP, too. Only $119. Hell, if you can afford a limo to take your girl to the prom, you can afford that. You gotta love the choice, anyway.
They base themselves out of Austin, does The Georgian Company. I've been counting and the way I figure it, there is one band for every five people in Austin. Makes me wonder who's going to the shows. Those Texas State Troopers put the fear of God into me, so I avoid the State, but if I did live there and The Georgian Company was playing, I would be there, front and center. One day, I might make an exception and just show up, Texas or no. They don't still hang people there, do they?
Frank O. Gutch Jr.
Supporting the Indies Since 1969
