Quakers on Probation-Every Living Thing Review

Artist: Quakers on Probation
Title: Every Living Thing
Genre: Rock-Pop-Country
Label: Independent

The Quakers on Probation are an interesting blend of musicians including a veteran session man that played with everyone from Elvis to the Beach Boys and a father and son team. There is Daniel Craig senior and junior and Larry Knechtel, who passed away during the sessions, and Graig Markel. Every Living Thing is a self proclaimed twangle-pop album although what I heard was a lot good pop rock and some major influences of country. The Craig team Daniel A. and Daniel F. play guitar, bass, drums and offer up some fine vocal treatments. Graig Markel covers some ground as well on guitar, bass, fender Rhodes, lap steel, pedal steel, banjo, mandolin and more to give some of the tracks a distinct longing country feel, especially on "Yard Sale".

It's hard to pinpoint the vocal style exactly but it will sound familiar to many listeners, think of Jackson Brown meets Ricky Nelson both vocally and instrumentally. That gives you an idea of what to look forward to on this excellent CD.

I especially enjoyed the pleasant vocals and Eagles like country rock accessibility. Everything about it has a nice flow and rhythm with vocals to match. It all screams play me again! By the time "Hollywood Walk of Fame" rolls around you get a changing of the guard with style and sound and it turns into the more pop twangle with a pulsating bass and keys. What this shows is a versatility to keep things interesting, Just when you think the album is becoming predictable they switch it up and sound like an entirely different band. "GI Joes" is quite different as well, it has more of an overall electronic ambient feel with layers of synth and keys and a smooth pop styled vocal approach.

What is impressive here is that this unit is talented enough to deliver the goods regardless of any style they decide to opt for. That kind of switching up requires a lot of talent from each contributor. The one track that could easily become a radio staple is the anthem "Lament for the Aging Rocker". It is a sad but true story about the typical rock star life and all the things that can happen after the stars become old and ready for the retirement home. The curtain closes on a decidedly alternative version of the 70s hit "Chevy Van". It has funkier flavor to it with a Wurlitzer rolling away as a backdrop pushing the vocals and steady strumming of the acoustic guitar to accompany the vocals-A very interesting way to close out an album full of surprises. It is appropriate considering all the different roads you go down on Every Living Thing. There was a good reason why it ended this way though. The late great Larry Knechtel played on that track and produced it so it was fine nod to him and his legacy.

It worked for me; this is a very good album that mostly anyone would enjoy listening to.

Hot Tracks: Yard Sale , Lament for the Aging Rocker, Marysville

4/5 Stars

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

March 21, 2010

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Tracks:
01. Pay it Forward
02. Your Favorite Song
03. Sun Country Inn
04. I Know a Woman
05. Every Living Thing
06. Yard Sale
07. Marysville
08. Hollywood Walk of Fame
09. GI Joes
10. Lament for the Aging Rocker
11. Chevy Van