Yesterday's Ring- Diamonds In The Ditch (Suburban Home Rec)
This is something new- alt country from Canada. While this genre has been increasingly popular in the states, I can't think of any bands north of the border doing it. Much like most bands of this genre in the states, Yesterday's Ring roots are buried deep within punk rock, in this case members of The Sainte Catherines. Interested in writing music that paid homage to legends like Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen as well as punk icons Tim Armstrong and Joe Strummer, Yesterday's Ring was born nearly a decade ago.
Unlike a lot of punk gone alt country outfits who mainly play rock tinged with country, Yesterday's Ring goes the entire way, employing banjos, harmonicas, mandolins, and horns. The end result is a disc two years in the making that successfully meshes folk, country, pop, and punk, in essence becoming a country-ish,punk rock opus that takes nods at more genres than you could imagine.
With the addition of musicians from such luminaries as Mad Caddies and Fifth Hour Hero, Yesterday's Ring have a sound not unlike if you combined Rancid with Springsteen and Cash, sprinkled some The Hold Steady pianos and some Flogging Molly like bits. That may sound like a not so appetizing combination but let me assure you it works really, really well.
I might have to suffer a beating for saying this, but Diamonds In The Ditch is better than any Lucero disc.
