Dan Wolff & the Muddy Crows - Straight Crazy
Americana roots outfit Dan Wolff & the Muddy Crows recently dropped their new EP, entitled Straight Crazy.
Dan Wolff & the Muddy Crows
Voted the Best DC Original Band in Washington, D.C.’s Readers Poll three years in a row, from 2015 to 2017, the Muddy Crows are made up of Dan Wolff (vocals, guitar), Eric Grabow (bass), Steve Mead (keyboards), Dan Perriello (drums), and Tom O’Donnell (guitar). Their sound blends modern-folk, radiant harmonies, classic rock energy, and narrative lyricism into contagious concoctions.
The band’s distinctive name, The Muddy Crows, has given rise to entertaining mispronunciations, like a friend’s grandmother, who called them “The Moldy Crows,” or when they were introduced as “The Muddy Cows” prior to performing at a festival. During their European tour, the translation of their name came across as “The Muddy Birds.” In each case, the band didn’t protest, they just carried on.
Straight Crazy comprises four tracks, starting off with the title track, an upbeat roots rock number riding a bouncy groove supplied by a potent bass line and tight drums. A bright piano drives the melody, as drawling vocals tell the tale of a girl who is crazy.
The cool tones of a trumpet and keening guitars infuse the harmonics with insistent energy, as Wolff intones his desire to be “anywhere but here.”
“Cause your eyes tell me you are crazy / The windows to your soul tell me all I need to know / Cause you’re straight crazy, yea you’re crazy about me.”
“Quarter Past Four” features an oozing, bluesy savor, crawling with a darkly wicked flow. The rolling rhythm adds to the ominous feel of the tune. Brimming harmonies infuse the melody with depth, as Wolff’s portentous tones imbue the lyrics with menace.
“The vultures fly circles, to see what’s in store / As the time ticks down to a quarter past four / So board up your windows and lock up your doors / Because today's the day, I'm going to even the score.”
“Jezebel” is another dark tune, full of heavy guitar riffs and urgent textures. The closing track, “Anywhere But Here,” showcases a pounding piano laden with honky-tonk flavors juxtaposed against Wolff’s imperturbable timbres. The cool tones of a trumpet and keening guitars infuse the harmonics with insistent energy, as Wolff intones his desire to be “anywhere but here.”
With Straight Crazy, Dan Wolff & the Muddy Crows deliver compelling vibes and catchy lyrics.
