My Country II [EP] by Bern/ Dan / Ijbc boutiques NEUF

Tracks:
President
Sammys Bat
Tyranny
Ostrich Town
After the Parade
My Country II
Torn Flag, The
Bush Must Be Defeated

Performer Notes:

• Personnel: Dan Bern (vocals, acoustic guitar); Dan Bern; Wil Masisak (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, keyboards, percussion, sampler, background vocals); Eben Grace (vocals, electric guitar, banjo, background vocals); Jake Coffin (vocals, drums, background vocals); Brian Schey (vocals); Brian Schey (bass instrument, background vocals); Charles Rose (hand claps); Karl Kassler (background vocals).
• Audio Mixers: Wil Masisak; Russ Fowler.
• Recording information: Ebens House, Dillon, MT; Smoky Rose, Boulder, CO; The Point, Bryn Mawr, PA; Velvet Recording, Boulder, CO.
• Folkie Dan Bern subtitling his My Country II "Music to beat Bush by" places him firmly to the left in the debate surrounding the 2004 presidential election. But Bern is a strong songwriter, and he emphasizes My Country IIs music over its message. Hes definitely not a fan of 43, but theres more on Berns mind than regime change. Dylan meets Costello in the bashed-out sonics of "Tyranny," and the tracks world-weariness comes from issues larger than one administration. Likewise, "After the Parade" is an everysoldiers lament, suggestive of Eric Bogles powerfully sad "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda." These tracks are certainly relevant to My Countrys central theme. But they make the album about more than just one man, even if Bern saves his real ire for Mr. Bush. "President" is a funny folk ramble personifying Ws first 100 days, while the title track takes issue with conservatives demonizing of dissenting opinion. Best might be the decidedly unsubtle "Bush Must Be Defeated." His acoustic guitar twining over downcast electronic percussion, Bern rhymes about 4,000 things with the word "defeated," and theyre all bad for the President. Example: "Bush must be defeated/His goodbye coffee heated/His White House bed short-sheeted/The imposer excreted." For those who share Berns sentiment, My Country II will be a rallying cry. But its also a testament to his skill as a singer and songwriter that the album stays the course, offering music, and not just message. ~ Johnny Loftus

Professional Reviews: Uncut (p.153) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Angry, comical, justifiably concerned."

Producer: Wil Masisak, Wil Masisak

Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo

Country: USA

Studio/Live: Studio

Release Date: 1 August, 2004

Label: Relativity Entertainment

Dimensions: 12.7 x 14.7 x 1 centimeters (0.09 kg)