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Earthshine Live @Bob's Review by Larry Toering On Live @ Bob's, tracks one through seven are recorded at Bob's studio in Billings, MT. Seven through eleven are previously recorded, so this isn't live in front of an audience as one might think by its title. Bob's is the studio of Bob Brown. Earthshine's debut CD is a much more raw listening experience so this is not as descriptive as their second release which is even more prog inclined. This band is truly awe inspiring, one of the most uplifting and refreshing I've heard in the last decade. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2011 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review

Boomerang Things open with a familiar sound and out of it grows a thing of perfection and beauty. This is a magnificent track full of every essential element it takes to be so. “How can I intrude” but to say that, and the vocals are like that of a bird. That is a frequent feeling one gets when listening to Earthshine.

Every Last Man This has a deep sort of spooky underlying vibe to it with acoustic guitar and bass heavy grooves and swiping textures backing a very stretching vocal performance from Kris Prinzing, one of her best to these ears. It’s another amazing track.

Fingers of Dusk Crisp guitar lines open this number and the bass joins in, and then more soft beautiful vocals take over. Some very lovely guitar soling is featured here with complementing acoustic bass. "The feeling is so softly sublime..." says it all. "Springtime is not yet here" as light totally meets dark in this organic collision of wonder.

Disillusion Nice slow start leads to a big build up with fewer words on this track. Everything is so precise, that one is easily swept away by this sweet little gem.

Mother This is like some kind of exercise in vocal mastery with heartfelt lyrics to spare. It’s another soul touching Earthshine standard.

Sea Shanty Scott Prinzing takes the opening vocals in brooding fashion with a flowing harmonica from Gary Ferguson, and Kris Prinzing adding vocal touches make this a cool change. I really like how it contrasts against the tune that preceded it.

Lullaby This is up there with my favorite Earthshine tracks, no disputing. It's an amazing song and most would agree that it's got everything this band is about. There is a Beatles vibe to this.

Hand of Fatimah Things get even more progressive here, more heavenly vocals along with a string arrangement are featured here - what an amazing voice.

The Dark Waltz “Dark” is the only way to describe this haunting tune. Violin adds a fine texture to this super soft, yet intensely progressive folk number. It's complete with the type of violin and acoustic bass sparring this group is so good at. Tim Todd provides the violin. "Nothing we do soothes the pain..." This is another musically and poetically brilliant track.

Exile More violin is featured in yet another slow and intricate song full of enchanting spirit. Amazing musical passages carry this up with more of the best Earthshine has to offer. There are more Beatles vibes.

Twelve Hours This track opens with nice percussion and soft vocals from both Prinzing's. It’s another organically progressive folk ballad of hypnotic proportions. Brad Edwards is featured on djembe here.

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