Tim Barry – Rivanna Junction

Most people will recognized Tim Barry from his main band, Virginia’s Avail. A hardcore punk band that has been rocking for over a decade. If you go into this expecting another album to fit right next to yourAvail collection, you’ll be disappointed; because the only thing similar is the vocalist. Barry‘s solo effort is vastly different from his main band, but that sure as hell doesn’t take anything away from the release.

Rivanna Junction is a much more old fashioned release, focusing more on the stories and content of the songs and more traditional instruments. The songs are stripped back to their basics, always being lead by Barry’s acoustic which gives the album a more country/bluegrass feel to it. The extra twang from the dobro gives the album a little extra kick, his sister’s violin normally brings the song to a higher level, andBarry‘s vocals alternate between gruff to more upbeat and harmonic and back numerous times throughout.

Avoiding Catatonic Surrender is a sparse little number retelling stories of being restless. Dog Bumped is a more upbeat track of family honor, family violence and murder. With lyrics that jump out at you instantly and an amazing bluegrass twang to it, Dog Bumped is by far the standout as Barry shows just how good a story teller he is and brings up visions of some of country’s greatest acts. Cardinal In Red Bed is a direct song with only Barry‘s vocals and Daniel Clark on the piano. It’s a clear and direct sound that builds and builds in anticipation as the piano rises as the song progresses. It is these differences that make Rivanna Junction so impressive, the fact that he’s able to go from the a sparse track with rough vocals to a more upbeat melody and then strip it all down to just vocals and piano without missing a beat is a sign that the album will be able to last the test of time.

Tim Barry‘s Rivanna Junction is a simple release, with a laid-back approach that just works so well. In the ten track album you get a wide range of sounds and speeds, and it all cumulates together for a spectacular emotional release. It’s not punk, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s folk, country, and bluegrass with honest lyrics of living the simple life, drinking beers, jumping trains, falling in love, being an outcast, being restless, and just being yourself. If you like strip down music, you have to get Rivanna Junction.