Shovels & Rope (from the album Manticore

​Shovels & Rope  (from the album Manticore available on Dualtone Music Group)  (by Bryant Liggett)
It’s been fun to watch the progress of Shovels & Rope. From their punky, stripped-down instrumentation take on Alt Folk to their great cover records, that included explorations into kids music, the duo deservedly moved their career up getting ‘big’ in the Indie-world. On their latest in Manticore, Shovels & Rope become an expansive, emotive, and expressive duo, rolling out big ballads. It’s different. It’s great.
“Domino” opens Manticore with handclaps and snaps with the husband/wife Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent scatting break-neck vocals, with the up-tempo slowing down for the heavy ballad of “The Show”. Those ballads continue and a piano is at the forefront for “Collateral Damage” and “Bleed Me”. This is an album of emotion, with the couple who are now ten years+ in as a duo laying it all out; the harmonies and overall mood remains heavy, as a cut like “Crown Victoria” cruises at a slow pace, the duo patient with their delivery.  “No Man’s Land” is a Psychedelic, spoken-word offering while Shovels & Rope drop another piano offering in the six-minute plus “Divide & Conquer”.
Growth is great, Shovels & Rope still have that Rootsy-badge worn on their sleeve with honor, but Manticore is a serious record. With ballads coming via piano and straight-ahead rhythms, and those rough around the edges but still warm harmonies, the duo obviously has some heavy things on their mind and on Manticore they’re letting it all out, and letting us all in. (by Bryant Liggett)
Listen and buy the music of Shovels & Rope from Dualtone Records store
 
For more information, please visit the Shovels & Rope website

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