Norfolk & Western - The Unsung Colony

Norfolk & Western are often reffered to as "the band with the girl from The Decemberists" (Rachel Blumberg is their former drummer) or "the guy that owns Typefoundry Studios" (Adam Selzer being that guy) or simply M. Wards back up band (as both of them often are). This is unfortunate because over the years a band that started as two people, a cast of revolving musicians, and a Victrola Grammaphone has evolved into their own unique entity. They have gone from being in the shadow of their other bands to being their contemporaries, and with this release, their competition.

In the past Norfolk & Western have gotten lumped under the "folk" heading, but with each release they become harder and harder to pin down. They can seamlessly flow between Iron and Wine balladry and epic orchestration. Dreary folk slips into M. Ward style nostalgia, with a story that would be at home in an outlaw country song. And that's just the begining of an album full of subtle sounds and numerous influences. These influences have come together to form their most diverse and engaging album to date. Their quiet introspection has turned outward with the politics of "From the Interests of Few" and "The New Rise of Labor," but they still retain their subtlety, which draws the listener in rather than polarizing them. These political tracks manage to coexist with their most well known talent of telling detailed, yet universal stories, and introspective reflection. Couple all of that with a bit of marimba and a lonesome accordian and it's hard to turn it off.

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