I just got this CD in the mail and played it three times through.  Jeff Lazaroff (main lead singer) has finally persuaded brother David (main guitarist) to return home to St. Louis, but the band will be back and forth anyway, given that Lindsay Greene (bass) and Gary Newcomb (pedal steel extraordinaire!) live in Austin and the lads just cannot get good tacos that far north.  Also featured on the CD are Stacy Hoobler on drums and percussion and Jeremy Schildcrout on harmonica — but trust me, there are PLENTY of people (Dave Sanger and his lovely bride Elizabeth McQueen, for example) who love to play music with THESE guys.

THIS is the record I had long been waiting for — consistent in its sound and with the songs like, “When the Bottom Falls Out” (dark) and “Let It Be Love” (yeah!) and “Creeks Don’t Rise” (sounds like a Robbie Robertson song to me).  The opening cut begins with Newcomb’s signature sound, and then Jeff’s raspy voice promises that “I’ll See You Through.”  The title cut is a real rocker — this is, after all, an Indie rock band of sorts.  More guitars on “Ain’t Gonna Let You In” (I think this is David singing here?)  — this has a little of the sound of “Eight Miles High.”  “Dreamin’” is a ballad sure enough, with lots of pedal steel and passion.  The final cut, “Lament,” is a poet’s version of a Bob Seger song, one to be played late late at night.  I have to run so I will not tell the WHOLE story of this record — but just get it and tell the band they HAVE to get here for about six or seven shows a year at the very least.

P.S.  I played American Artifact several times over last week while driving through the beautiful Vermont countryside — and let me tell you, the juxtaposition of David Lazaroff’s fuzztone guitar and Gary Newcomb’s unequaled pedal steel make this one of the best traveling records in a long time.  The final cut, “Lament,” is nearly nine minutes of pure bliss — Jeff’s spoken vocals reminding us along the way that “paying attention” reaps huge rewards and does not (despite the “paying”) cost a dime — Gary says this is some of his very best work ever, and I concur.  The boys will be down later this year for another round of shows.