20,000 Streets Under The Sky [Digipak]

Performer: Marah
Engineer: David Bielanko; Serge Bielanko; Tim Hatfield
Distributor: Redeye Music Distribution

Notes: Marah: David Bielanko (various instruments, bass guitar); Mike Brenner (lap steel guitar); Robert Ambs (flute); Lou Fuiano (baritone saxophone); Mike Hood, Nancy Falkow, Serge Bielanko, Mike Ambs, Mark Boyce, Matt Cappy, Franz Hueber. Personnel: David Bielanko (vocals, guitar, banjo); Serge Bielanko (vocals, guitar, harmonica, background vocals); Tony Gairo (alto saxophone); Matt Cappy (trumpet); Mike Hood (trombone); Mark Boyce (piano, Clavinet, organ); Jon Wurster, Mike Ambs (drums); Nancy Falkow (background vocals). Audio Mixers: David Bielanko; Serge Bielanko. Recording information: Cowboy Technical Services Recording Rig., Brooklyn, NY (04/2003-03/2004); Formula One Recording Studio, Phoenix, AZ (04/2003-03/2004); Frank's Auto, Philadelphia, PA (04/2003-03/2004). The kids from Philly continue their widescreen explorations into the street characters and urban landscapes they have been moving toward during their past three albums. Self-recording with their own funds and without major-label input hasn't cheapened the group's approach. In fact, this is arguably their best-sounding disc, with instruments reverberating in multiple overdubs and frontman/lyricist David Bielanko's aching vocals -- somewhat like the Del Fuegos' Dan Zanes -- as clear, soulful, and potent as if he's in the room with you. Theirs is the shimmering, noir world of outsiders, junkies, loners, and doomed lovers that Bruce Springsteen (who guested on their last release) so effectively portrays. But on this gritty album the doo wop and Brill Building '60s pop roots are more fully explored. Even without hearing David's haunting lyrics, the handclaps, horns, and backing vocals erupt in a visceral, shambling production that evokes city tenement life on the poorer side of town with West Side Story toughness. Although not a rock opera or even a themed disc, David and brother Serge have crafted a stunning and detailed audio version of the inner city, as seen by scrappy rock & rollers with an ear for the past. It's a big, brooding, and often joyous album, as the multi-layered tracks make each immaculately crafted song sound as forceful and unpredictable as a runaway train. Along with the prominent Springsteen influence, are nods to fellow New Jersey-ite Southside Johnny, especially in the singalong choruses of "Tame the Tiger" and the "shimmy, shimmy ko ko bop" quote of the anthemic "Freedom Park," this album's "Born to Run." It's a sprawling, throbbing, assertive work that shows Marah to be masters of the studio and visionaries on a grand scale. ~ Hal Horowitz

Q (p.115) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[With a] passionate, pomp-free take on blues-rock..." Uncut (p.91) - 4 stars out of 5 - "A] substantial return to form....With enough energy, yearning and exhilaration to restore your faith in it." Magnet (p.101) - "What's epic about 20,000 STREETS UNDER THE SKY is its realness..."

Philadelphia-bred roots-rockers Marah have had a career distinguished by two things: one, an unselfconsciously classic-rock approach to their craft that, since the mid-1990s, has bucked any of the trends of the day; and two, an ability to attract powerful champions while maintaining indie cred. Formed around the nucleus of brothers Dave and Serge Bielanko, the band released their first album on a small label in '98, and got the attention of Steve Earle, who released the follow-up on his E-Squared Records. Oasis producer Owen Morris, generally reluctant to work with Americans, helmed the next album, on which Bruce Springsteen guested, and writers Nick Hornby and Stephen King have both raved in print about their music. Despite all the public praise, by their eighth studio release in 2008 the band was still proudly independent.

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