Blood Meridian - Kick Up The Dust
(2006)

Review by Sean Lynch

There are very few bands that defy exact catagorisation. Genre's tend to blend into one another these days, making it mighty difficult to pigeonhole, which is a good thing. Blood Meridian are one such band.

Hailing from Canada this dirty, slacker country-rock outfit with folk from Black Mountain and Pink Mountaintops is something of a mixed bag. Named after Cormac McCarthy's novel of unforgiving violence in the Old West, Blood Meridian began as a hotel-room project while lead singer, Matthew Camirand, was on the road with his past group, The Black Halos. 

Camirand's Vancouver Rock-scene luminaries band mates include Joshua Wells on drums, Shira Blustein on the often underused organ/pianos, Kevin Grant on bass, and a innocently raw Jeff Lee on guitar. Together, Blood Meridian have created an album that happily take you out on 'The Ol' Trail". It's much like you've gathered all your things and gone on a camping trip with your mates. And, as with most camping trips, some idiot brings a guitar.

There are some superb folk-country-rock songs on display here, "Your Boyfriend's Blues" is a perfect starting point with a poppy melody that encompasses a country heart. However it's the quieter moments that seem to transcend some of the albums weaker moments. The group ballad "In The Forest, Under The Moon" - which sounds like Elliot Smith and The White Stripes beside a night time campfire - is a standout, as is the simple "Try For You".

There is a line that often needs to be drawn with country folk music. It's so easy to get away with a likable album as long as you keep the guitar strumming and have a story to tell. Vocals aren't a major issue either - take for example Aussie Singer/Songwriter Paul Kelly, you're not likely to see him winning ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA - because his voice does take some getting used to, but there is a beauty to it. 

However, there is something slightly irritating at times with McCarthy. It's strange, for the first half of the album you really enjoy the tunes and the slack-jawed nature of the ditties - but somehow by about half way through, you begin to get a bit of a headache. 

Much like a car ride with friends, it's fun and games while everyone joins in to sing to a song on the radio - but there's always that one person that continues to sing that extra song to long (and you just know they are putting effort into it). It's just tiresome after a while.

"Kick Up The Dust" has it's moments, although best listened to in a few halves to avoid ruining the experience for you. Having said that - when Blood Meridian does get it right, you truly feel like your sitting under a star filled sky, with a swag by your side, a camp fire roaring with a threatening coyote not far off. 

RATING: 2.5 out of 5