Maurice Hope – October 14, 2016 at 01:36PM
Tags:_AMERICANA
On occasions I detect a similarity or two to Neil Young of the seventies as Chicago Farmer (the moniker for Bloomington, Illinois’ Cody Diekhoff) speaks of social and political issues, and how on “Farms and Factories” he brings to life images of how a family works on the factory farm, and the lives of your ordinary everyday blue-collar folk.
Joining Chicago Farmer you have Ernie Hendrickson, Darren Garvey, Matt Ulery, Rodrigo Palma and Chris Harden among others; not least among ‘others’ is backing vocalist, Heather Horton (5-tracks), Midwest Side Stories is Chicago Farmer’s 7th album, and he can count Todd Snider (“I love Chicago Farmer’s singing and playing and songs, but it’s the intention behind the whole of his work that moves me to consider the him genuine heir to Arlo Guthrie or Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Chicago Farmer is my brother, if you like me you’ll love him.”) as one of his many supporters.
All the songs, other than the final track “I’m Still Here” (John Hartford) are from his own pen, and you have some brilliant ones! Non any fine than “Rocco N’ Susie”, a song about a married couple who ran a local baker and had two kids and a two-car garage and who from next door they looked like a family. Only when the markets crash landed the couple lost every thing, had to fore close the bakery and Susie worked from home as their plight worsened. Their long, hard hours of work now worth nothing.
Others of note include the open blast of “Umbrella” and “Revolving Door”, and with a wonderful, hollow space behind the vocals “Skateboard Song” . Plus a Steve Goodman-esque composition “Two Sides Of The Story”; and though he doesn’t sound too much like his fellow Illinois legend, Chicago Farmer does posses a similar conversational styled presentation and the ability to really craft a song.
Chicago Farmer’s vocals though well rounded they have a ragged edge to hook the attention of the listener; and with slide guitar peeping between the rhythmic pounding of drums, bass guitar and electric lead “New Used Car” coupled with the more urgent “9PM To 5” in some ways has Farmer throw off the shackles as he delivers an uptempo work song. Though good, I feel a greater affection for the bright n’ breezy, fiddle propelled “Farms & Factories”; it has such a familiar feel to it is like I have heard it somewhere before. It comes with some neat country lead guitar too, nice one.
Hartford’s “I’m Still Here” has a keen, punchy drive and electric lead guitar all over it as he professes he is still here; although things around him are crumbling, and he has been given his order to vacate his home. Be sure check out this guy’s music.
Maurice Hope
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