Tallahassee CD review, Boston Globe, May 2, 2013

Noisy Neighbors

Tallahassee, ‘Old Ways’

By Scott McLennan

 Globe Correspondent    May 02, 2013

Tallahassee
Old Ways

For all its loose, peaceful flow, Tallahassee’s “Old Ways” has a dark undercurrent. The kickoff song, “Old Brown Shoes,” is about breaking free from a town that’s nothing more than faded memories. But then the ensuing songs hammer home the perils of hitting the road; at one point, the devil himself warns, “Young man, don’t ramble, you’ll end up alone.” For all its sorrow and heartbreak, “Old Ways” is a smooth listen. Singer Brian Barthelmes subsumes the songs’ angst into loping, cowboy blues, using well-chiseled lyrics instead of lung-busting bravado to make his points. Guitarist Scott Thompson further molds the mood with clean, steely leads that subtly push these folksy tunes into a rock ’n’ roll setting. Nothing gets loud or wild, which is an accomplishment considering the subject matter: “Daggers” is a brutal breakup song (and has Thompson’s most intense solo); the 50-second “Old Ways” is the gospel of repudiation; and “Where Oh Where” is all seeker’s resolve. Tallahassee may not shout amid the tumult, but still easily grabs your attention.
ESSENTIAL “Daggers”
Tallahassee plays May 3 at the Sinclair.