The Coal Men: Escalator

Updated:

September 20, 2018 4:11 pm

American Songwriter participates in affiliate programs with various companies. Links originating on American Songwriter’s website that lead to purchases or reservations on affiliate sites generate revenue for American Songwriter . This means that American Songwriter may earn a commission if/when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links.

Videos by American Songwriter

The Coal Men
Escalator
(Vaskaleedez/Aimless)
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Stream the album

This Nashville based trio—although only two are pictured on the sleeve—have been cranking out tough, bluesy rock since its 1999 formation. Somewhere along the line they caught Todd Snider’s ear, giving album number four a leg up to get the band some well-deserved attention by appearing on his indie label and opening some of his shows.

Frontman/multi-instrumentalist Dave Coleman is the drawing card, writing or co-penning all the songs, not to mention supplying the group with a sly derivation of his name. He widens his field of vision by judiciously adding horns to a few selections, infusing a raw pop element to others and bringing the blues that grounds his songs to the forefront. Jen Gunderman, best known for her work in the Jayhawks, augments five tunes with her keyboards, further expanding the group’s sonic palette, but by no means making it slicker.

It’s that raw approach that grounds the Coal Men, delivering a rugged touch to even the most melodic moments, in particular “Midnight You.” Reverb on Coleman’s guitar instills a swampy base for these songs, some of which take a few spins to kick in. But with thirteen tracks running nearly an hour, there is plenty of time and variety to keep the listener coming back for more. Coleman nails the ragged glory of a Neil Young & Crazy Horse attack on the ballad “Old Friends,” and others that pushes some tunes into roaring, gutsy, energized set pieces. Even on slower, more introspective fare such as “Tennessee,” an underlying tension brings edgy emotion as the song leisurely unwinds.

Coleman’s threads of rock, country, soul, blues and even indie pop are assisted enormously by Joe Garcia’s sharp, dusky production and drummer Dave Ray’s subtle drum loops. They keep the band grounded in its roots while pushing the often narrow Americana envelope into fresh territory. With 15 years in the trenches, the group has emphasized its strengths here and is clearly on the escalator up.