Dave Schramm


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Walk To Delphi , 6/10
Rock Paper Scissors Dynamite , 6/10
Little Apocalypse , 5/10
Folk Und Die Folgen , 6.5/10
Hammer And Nails , 6/10
100 Questions , 6/10
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Dave Schramm, un membro fondatore degli Yo La Tengo che figura sul loro primo album, si fece poi un nome come chitarrista country all'antica con il combo country-rock degli Schramms (che comprendevano anche il batterista degli Human Switchboard, Ron Metz). Se Walk To Delphi (Okra, 1990) fu un'esibizione del virtuosismo del gruppo, Schramm comincio` a sviluppare un'autentica voce di cantautore con Rock Paper Scissors Dynamite (Okra, 1992), sul quale spiccano due delle sue gemme liriche: Talking To Me Poor e Her Darkness.

Little Apocalypse (Easi Side Digital, 1994) segna purtroppo un ritorno al formato country-rock format dell'album di debutto (banche' almeno Heart Not Within e A Woman's Name sfiorino una modesta grandeur).

Schramm poi lascio` il gruppo per lanciare la sua carriera solista. Folk Und Die Folgen (Return To Sender, 1994) lo affermo` nei panni di scrittore e interprete, capace di una quieta disperazione alla Leonard Cohen e dotato di un talento magico per gli arrangiamenti spartani.

Ancor piu` semplice e` il sound di Hammer And Nails (Catamount, 1999), nonostante il suo miglior strumentale di sempre, Lambet Lullaby.

Dave Schramm, an original member of Yo La Tengo who is featured on their first album, made a name as an old-fashioned country guitarist with the country-rock combo Schramms (which also included Human Switchboard's drummer Ron Metz). While Walk To Delphi (Okra, 1990) was a showcase for the group's dexterity, Schramm started developing the voice of a songwriter with Rock Paper Scissors Dynamite (Okra, 1992), that boasts two of his lyrical gems: Talking To Me Poor and Her Darkness.

Unfortunately, Little Apocalypse (Easi Side Digital, 1994) marks a return to the country-rock format of the debut album (although at least Heart Not Within and A Woman's Name achieve a modest grandeur).

In the meantime, Schramm had helped Virginia-born singer songwriter Kate Jacobs record her literate country albums The Calm Comes After (Small Pond, 1992) and What About Regret (Bar None, 1995), the latter containing the single A Sister.

Schramm then left the band to start his solo career. Folk Und Die Folgen (Return To Sender, 1994) established as a major writer and interpreter, capable of Leonard Cohen's quiet desperation and magically skilled at spare arrangements.

Even simpler is the sound of Hammer And Nails (Catamount, 1999), despite his best instrumental ever, Lambet Lullaby.

The Schramms' evocative roots-rock pivots on three pillars: the leader's rhythm and blues vocals, his dissonant guitar licks and the majestic work of Andrew Harris on accordion and keyboards. Torn In Two and Mary Come Lately, the standout tracks of 100 Questions (Innerstate, 2000), sound like a cross between Dream Syndicate and Palace Brothers.

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