Barn Doors & Concrete Floors

I have had this for a while now and was sure I loved it, but I wanted to make sure I was going to carry on doing so before writing a review. And the good news is that it gets better as it defines itself on your sub conscious. Israel Nash Gripka has made a work of genius through sheer love.Opener `Fools Gold' kicks off with a scorching harmonica riff, strumming guitars a Hammond and my favourite even a mandolin. It is easily classified as country/alt/rock, but those monikers do not do justice to such a heart felt delivery. `Drown' is one of those songs that makes me remember Steve Earle around the `Copperhead Road' era. It is one of those tales of woe that only comes out of having truly lived. It credits Mr Cuddles for barking too and the first fiddle playing courtesy of Brendon Anthony. Next `Sunset Regret' is one of those ballads opens with the line `Going down like brandy wine, oh Lord I need you now', it just works its way into your heart like this whole album does.Track five is `Four Winds', this seems like a simple song, but that undermines the simple beauty of the melody and the lyrics. He uses imagery to paint a story that will pass you by without concentration -either way it works; and features a pedal steel too. `Louisiana' sounds like one that `Primal Scream' really wanted to have written, and that is a compliment. Keeping the geographical theme going, the next one is `Baltimore'; this takes it down a notch and has one of my favourite lines in; `You see the water that touched my lips, has turned to wine again'.I am hearing the songs as I write this and the hairs on the back of my neck have just risen as I listen to the opening to `Red Dress', it's just a love story, but makes you feel like smiling and to my joy we get fiddle, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and great backing vocals. Penultimate track `Bellwether Ballad' is so pared back that it could seem out of place, but it just works. Slow and beautiful lyrics where he intones `but women and pain they never wait'. It ends with `Antebellum' with a more electric feel, still it is a great end to a rare piece of music excellence.Recorded in a barn in the Catskill mountains, it has the feel of a low key but attuned production, and I can't wait to see these guys live and hear even more from them.

Always there’s an artist within a certain music scene whose arrival is a big promise. Israel Gripka Nash is the one within the Americana music. His singer-songwriting debut was well received. His performances at Americana festivals created a positive expectations. Automatically the question popped up, Could he live up to this with his next record?I think he did, because “Barn Doors and Concrete Floors” is a strong American/Roots-rock album. Israel Gripka Nash decided to go to the countryside at Catskill Mountains in upstate New York and to record the songs in a barn instead of a professional studio. ‘Hmmm, skeptical’ would be the first way of thinking. Then you would expect lots of extra noises and sounds, but that did not happen. On the contrary: Instead he and his band created a strong record with a variety of styles within its genre. It sounds so good that you wish more musicians would record in the same way.Israel Gripka Nash honors artist he admires, but does not copy them. You can hear a touch of Ryan Adams, Neil Young, The Band, etc, but it is still 100% Israel Gripka Nash. The songs are about loss and love, human shortcomings and man struggle in society. Rootsrock is the basis, but it has been influence by some blues, touch of gospel, added with traditional instruments like banjo, fiddle, mandolin and harmonica here and there on the songs. The band uses high-turnover chord structures at medium tempos with strong, fluent and different melodies.“Goodbye Ghost” sounds like the title: haunting in the dark night. He kind of wanes in and out with a rasp more noticeable on this track. The up-tempo “Red Dress” is like an ode to men who go crazy for a beautiful woman in a red dress. Final song “Antebellum” builds up to a climax within the chorus, Israel singing in an outburst. The record is a great collection of different kinds of songs within its genre. A compliment!

Such a great album. Great songs, great playing and excellent vocals. Why only four stars? I take it the artist had good reasons for recording in a barn but the production, in my humble opinion, does nothing for the music. I find it really hard to make out some of the instruments on several tracks. The drums sound awful and trying to pick out a bass line is a task in itself. I would love to hear him singing live. I think there's some lovely organ on Fool's Gold but I'm darned if I can make it out. Lo-fi can be really effective. It's one of the strengths of early Jolie Holland, for example. Here however I feel that the music is swamped - no pun intended - by a really muddy sound which does nothing for intimacy in this instance. I look forward to his next album. As already stated the songwriting is outstanding.

I haven't heard his debut and that is something I need to rectify asap.What I hear most of all on this second outing are the melodies of the Jayhawks but without the harmonies.I'd call this country rock at its best. Magnificent songs, great playing without overdoing it.Let's not mention the fact that this was recorded in a barn.It simply is beautiful well crafted music from a future star.

This is a gem of an album. Fantastic song writing and a great band. I caught Israel and his band at the Garage in North London recently and they put on a fantastic show opening with Goodbye Ghost off Barn Doors. Do not hesitate if you like quality American music, the song writing & musician ship are second to none. This is continually in my player since I bought it and is thoroughly recommended!

I loved every song. A great voice.

I caught half of one track being played on Radio Scotland and was so impressed by it I decided to take a chance on the album. So glad that I did. This is one of the best I own. Every song is of an amazing quality and I've just had it on constant play since. It's not a style of music I'm hugely familiar with, so can't advise to buy it if you like..... but I can say that if you appreciate a well written song and a great musicianship you will not be disappointed.