Down Side Up

My first go with Old Man Markley had me wondering what kind of Punk music I’d be listening to. When I’d read they infused Blue Grass with Punk I assumed it was going to sound a lot like most of the Celtic Punk bands that have been up and coming for years, or at least close to something like that. Boy was I wrong.

As a Rock/Blue Grass album I did enjoy Down Side Up. I don’t know that I would consider it punk music. It does hold that same political rebellion that you find in most Punk music, but at the same time it was softer, leaning more towards the country side of things, which surprised me seeing as how the band hails from Los Angeles.

Still, you can’t help but feel the rush of adrenaline when you hear the rebellious anthem America’s Dreaming or feel the rush of the high speed banjo musings on Blood On My Hands.

Down Side Up is a pretty solid album, aside from the female singer lead tracks on the album, far to average in my opinion, but overall a pleasant experience. From what I hear their first album Guts and Teeth is where it’s at. I’ll have to check that out. Until then I suppose Down Side Up fits right in there with the current flow of music that incorporates more traditional type instruments into the scheme of things.