You can’t put “The 1861 Project” on shuffle.
This ambitious, engaging and yes, educational project chronicles the Civil War through the perspectives of those who fought it.
The stirring John Anderson performance on “The Turning of a Field” foreshadows the events of the next four years, culiminating in the surrender at Appomattox and the soldiers’ return home.
There are inherent challenges in a project that tries to recapture the emotions and spirit of an era long gone. The music has to be contemporary (the hit songs of the 1860s don’t wear very well) and yet sound like they’re of a kind with the time. Producer Thomm Jutz and a talented group of writers, including Peter Cronin, Charley Stefl, Jon Weisberger, Stan Webb, Irene Kelley and
Dana Cooper accomplish that nicely.
The second challenge is to tell the story of the Civil War in some detail, yet not let it overwhelm the music. Case in point, these lyrics from Jutz and Cooper’s “Greater Gentlemen”: “Grant let them keep their horses/he ordered there’ll be no cheers/ these soldiers are our countrymen, though we’ve fought them for four long years.”
That’s a mouthful, but somehow it works.
A highlight of “The 1861 Project” is Marty Stuart’s performance on “The Soldier’s Dream,’ but there are fine players throughout the album.
Granted, there’s a certain threshold to enjoying this album. If you don’t care at all about the Civil War, this is a tough sell. But for buffs, Americana music fans looking for something a little different and teachers everywhere,”The 1861 Project” offers an appealing mix of history and artistry.
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