There is a purposeful brevity to the music that Rich Clark makes as Wayward Sparrow, not so much music stripped back to its essence, but rather a sound that was never built up beyond that which was necessary to get the message across. And Devil By Your Side is a collection of songs whose message is clear from just the deft and ornate guitar work and one, and occasionally two, voices.
This is music that sits at the heart of the Americana ideal, music which tells the story of that place and the people who live there, earnest and honest, blue-collar and beautiful in its own rough and raw way.
“Hallowed Ground” kicks things off perfectly, exemplifying what’s to follow: a new-world lamentation, an American prayer, lyrics so old-school that they are near biblical in their execution, dark and doomed, and reminiscent of the sort of music that put The Handsome Family on the map. (And the fact that this is the second time I have used them as a reference this week can only be a good thing, right?)
“One Way Town” sees him joined by Brooke Rousseau, the music more lilting and upbeat, but the message is one of shattered dreams and hopes denied; the boy-girl vocal interplay is glorious even as the narrators accept that sometimes your roots are too strong to ever escape.
“Wayward Sparrow” goes a more folky route, “Three Little Birds” shows us exactly what Clark can do with his voice through this cool reworking of Bob Marley’s most recognizable song, and “Devil By My Side” is so apocalyptic in nature that I’m surprised that Nick Cave hasn’t made an offer for it.
If you want dark, brooding, and brutally honest Americana, stripped back and direct, you’ve come to the right place.
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