New England Music Scrapbook

January 12, 2006

"The first album on my list of records to consider for my best of 2006 chart is "Beauty of a Heart" by THE COMING GRASS. And it is only January 14. All of this band's records are good, whether they are issued under the name, The Coming Grass, or Sara Cox, an ace TCG frontperson. But this release I'm finding a lot easier to get into fast than any of the earlier discs.

The control offered by the recording studio is wonderful when used expertly as it is here. Too often, though, the technical production staff - producers and engineers - go to one extreme or another, either playing it fast and loose or going for near perfection in ways that stifle musical expression. That is why people in the Portland area ought to count themselves as bless to have Nate Schrock in their midst. He gets it right time and time again. He ought to be so busy with The Coming Grass that he doesn't have time for studio work with others. And he ought to be so busy with engineering and production duties that he doesn't have time for the band. That's right, our goal is to see him run into the ground. But in the cause of music. Here he has achieved a delightful instrumental sound that falls somewhere between "Exile on Main Street"-inspired contemporary roots rock and some of the best roots-oriented live 1960s rock 'n' roll.

"Beauty of a Heart" is playing right now and it is a beauty. It's no big surprise, of course, that the album features world-class vocals from Sara Cox. She is a longtime favorite around here. But Ginger Cote's drumming is a revelation. I have heard her a lot on record, and hands down this is her best work.

"Beauty of a Heart" is a real gem."