Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

The Arcadian Wild
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


The Arcadian Wild
Finch in the Pantry

Album length: 11 tracks: 49 minutes
Style: Progressive Bluegrass
Street Date: May 3, 2019
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3
Buy It: Bandcamp


The Arcadian Wild proclaim themselves to be "at the intersection of genre," considering bluegrass, folk, classical, pop, blues, and perhaps a few other styles that combine to form progressive bluegrass, which may fly under the radar of many, but has gained some notoriety by artists such as Nickel Creek and The Punch Brothers. Their second full-length album, Finch in The Pantry showcases those sensibilities brilliantly, in a cohesive collection of songs that dance around that intersection.

Even if unfamiliar with the Arcadian Wild or progressive bluegrass, the listener will find some long-lost familiarity in the themes and melodies, which allows one to settle in and experience the freshness and depth that they bring with these tunes. The upbeat "Hey, Runner!" sets the stage using all four instruments (mandolin, guitar, fiddle, stand-up bass) in counterpoint that merges into one sound and then back again. Without question, this is a toe-tapper that recounts an interaction between a less-than-humble musician and his/her festival runner.

Founders Lincoln Mick and Isaac Horn alternate taking the lead on the album along with a few full instrumentals. Highlights include the haunting "Silence, a Stranger," a soaring song that contemplates the loss of solitude amidst the busyness of life ("Quiet come another time. Isn't on my side. I need to look alive.") and the hopeful "The Graduate" that celebrates the concept of community ("We share a heart of gold. We are a body of broken bones. When were we ever alone? Together, we'll make our way home."). "The Food Truck Blues" adds a humorous change of pace with a more traditional bluegrass recounting of Lincoln's experience serving burgers with the hope that the band would soon "blow up online."

Lyrically, much of Finch in The Pantry is introspective, humbly reflecting real human struggles with subtle but clear undercurrents of faith with nods to prayer/meditation and the Church, along with a brutally honest reaction to the apostle Paul's call in Ephesians to "Awake O Sleeper" in the song of the same name.

The Arcadian Wild has kept busy since the release of this album, with the subsequent release of numerous covers and original singles, along with 2021's amazing Principium EP. This fall has seen a torrid touring schedule including a slot on Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God tour, and the band has hopes to hit the studio again soon.

Overall, Finch in The Pantry is a wonderful effort that should win over the ears and hearts of not only the few progressive bluegrass faithful, but also anyone willing to step out and take in the consummate poetry, composition, and musicianship of this album.

- Review date: 1/8/22, written by Tom Sehman for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 11 tracks: 49 minutes
. Street Date: May 3, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3
. Buy It: Bandcamp

  1. Hey, Runner! (3:58)
  2. Tell It Like It Is (5:11)
  3. Finch In The Pantry (3:51)
  4. Silence, A Stranger (5:30)
  5. The Food Truck Blues (2:58)
  6. Stan The Man (2:44)
  7. Oh, Sleeper (4:50)
  8. Civil War (5:24)
  9. Holemabier (3:20)
  10. The Graduate (4:48)
  11. A Benediction (6:09)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 3, 2025
SINGLES
Sixpence None The Richer The Needle and the Damage Done - Single [Flatiron]

This Friday, June 6, 2025
ALBUMS
CCV Hollow (Deluxe) (independent)
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire [Provident]
Hopeful. The Wild One - EP (independent)
Christy Nockels King Who Never Sleeps; Anthems for Rest [The Fuel]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down My Will - Single [BEC]
Bill B. & Cyrus Sonata Kevlar - Single [Syntax]
Elan Brio I'm Satisfied (ft. Henry Israel) - Single (independent)
Aaron Cole NOBODY BUT GOD - Single [Provident]
Equippers Worship Living in Freedom (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Pray - Single [DREAM]
Ic3rd & EJ Swavv Woke Up (ft. CJ Emulous & George.Rose) - Single [Syntax]
King David tha Vessel Consistant - Single (independent)
Brandon Lake Daddy's DNA [Provident]
Myles Maestro Flood (ft. Ace Savage & Shruumi) - Single [Syntax]
Mell Omii Wave - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Mr. Pilot - Single [Syntax]
River Valley Worship Time For Revival - Single [BEC]
Roy Tosh Everything's Gonna Be Alright (feat. PEABOD) - Single [RMG Amplify]
Solachi Voz All I Need - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Genesis (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]
Ayiesha Woods I Have Hope - Single [Backsider]

VINYL
Ironwrath Master Storyteller Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego [DREAM]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images