Billboard Magazine
Monday, August 14, 2006
The Klezmatics
³Wonder Wheel²
Lyrics by Woody Guthrie
Where does klezmer meet American folk music
and social activism? Thanks to The Klezmatics, we discover common ground on
Brooklyn's Mermaid Avenue, where Woody Guthrie lived in the late 1940's. Working
with Guthrie¹s daughter Nora to uncover some lesser known gems from the
pioneering balladeer, the band confounds expectations by tapping into a
bluegrassy vibe ("Gonna Get Through This World") and a 1950's style
pop (on "Mermaid's Avenue") as well as into its iconic klezmer energy
on such tunes as "Goin' Away To Sea" and "Wheel Of Life."
Regardless of what flavor a particular track takes on, however, the Klezmatics
prove themselves to be sensitive interpreters of any artistic language they
choose, shapeshifting their sound around vocalist Lorin Sklamberg's lithe and
heartfelt lead. While the trip along Mermaid Avenue is off the beaten
Klezmatics path, it¹s a welcome diversion.
- AT