Review: The Greencards’ “Sweetheart of the Sun”

By Paul T. Mueller

The Greencards, that little old Aussie band from Austin, moves a bit further from its bluegrass roots on its sixth outing, Sweetheart of the Sun. The album’s 12 tracks constitute a kind of folky song cycle woven around the theme of travel of various kinds, and permeated with images of water. All are performed with great instrumental and vocal prowess by the group’s three members and a skilled supporting cast; the result is a collection that’s immediately accessible but also rewards repeated listening.

 Founders Carol Young and Kym Warner, both from Australia, have been playing together for a long time, and it shows in the way their contributions – Young’s vocals and bass, Warner’s mandolin and other instruments, mostly stringed – combine in the service of their beautiful melodies and interesting, if sometimes obscure, lyrics. Carl Miner, an American who joined the group a few years ago, adds texture in the form of guitars, keyboards and percussion.

The core lineup also benefits from some talented guests, including David Beck and Paul Cauthen of Sons of Fathers, on bass and vocals; guitarists/multi-instrumentalists Jedd Hughes and Kai Welch, both of whom also contributed lyrics to several songs; singer Aoife O’Donovan; bassist/pedal steel player Luke Reynolds of Guster, and Andrea Zonn on violin and viola. Gary Paczosa’s sharp, clean production also deserves high marks.

As mentioned, travel and water feature prominently on Sweetheart of the Sun. Sometimes it’s obvious – the cover art shows the band standing knee-deep in water, and song titles include “Black Black Water,” “Ocean Floor,” “Traveler’s Song” and “Midnight Ferry,” among others. Sometimes it’s a little more subtle – the way several tracks fade out and segue into others brings to mind the way waves on the beach recede and return, and the sequencing of the songs – one somber, the next upbeat – might be analogous to the repetitive cycle of the tides.

Sweetheart includes three instrumental tracks; the best (by a small margin) is “Paddle the Torrens,” apparently a reference to the River Torrens that flows through the Australian city of Adelaide. It blends bluegrass and Irish music in an upbeat melody that winds through unexpected but pleasing turns. It’s an excellent showcase for all things stringed, not the least of which is Zonn’s terrific violin.

Other highlights include “Forever Mine,” which sets lyrics of longing to a lively tempo; “Ocean Floor,” the quietly disturbing first-person account of a drowning victim (written by Mark Logen, it’s the album’s only cover); “Traveler’s Song,” written by Warner and sung by Young, that pretty well sums up the joys and trials of the itinerant life; “Wide Eyed Immigrant,” a term that might have described Young and Warner at one time; “Boxcar Boys,” which brings Spanish and gypsy flavor to a story of leaving home for a better life, and the album-ending “Fly,” in which Young sings, “Remember words I once was told/Keep your roots down low, your head up high.” Good advice for anyone, including world-class musicians.

Side note: It turns out Sweetheart of the Sun is also the title of a Bangles album from a couple of years ago, and judging from sample clips on that band’s website, that Sweetheart is also worth a listen.

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