The Bottom Line
Railroad Earth is a great live band. Like any band that's usually great live, their CDs have always left a little something to be desired, but Elko manages to capture some of that concert energy. Some of the best songs really shine on this record, including "Bird In A House," and "Old Man and the Land," while others tend to go on a little long for my liking. Still, it's a great snapshot of a band that truly rocks live.
Pros
- "Old Man and The Land"
- "Bird In A House"
- "Seven Story Mountain"
Cons
- Jams can border on too long
Description
- Two CDs of great material
- Shining moments from multi-instrumentalist Goessling and fiddler Carbone
- A great option if you can't catch Railroad Earth live this year
Guide Review - Railroad Earth - Elko
If you've never seen Railroad Earth live, you're really missing out on an event. Their shows are always fun and full of great energy, and it's always hard to capture that same energy when a band goes into the studio to make a CD. Live CDs can even fall short of the same feeling you'd get at an actual show, and while Elko has a moment here and there of lagtime, it really is the next best thing to actually catching the band live.
Highlights include some of the band's best material, like "Seven Story Mountain" and "Like a Buddha." The jams are as tight as ever, and there are some seriously shining moments from fiddler Tim Carbone and multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling, as well as some tight interludes from bassist Johnny Grub.
Overall, the best way to enjoy Railroad Earth is still at their live shows. But if you can't wait til they come to your town, Elko is a great second option. The CD does about as good a job as is possible on a recording of capturing the band's energy and tight musicianship.
Listen/Download Elko
