New releases recall the ’80s, ’90s GREGG SHAPIRO | Q-MusicGreggShapiro@aol.com It’s not necessary to quantify the musical status of Bonny Light Horseman by calling them a “folk supergroup,” when supergroup would suffice.
After all, Anaïs Mitchell is a Tony Award-winner (for Hadestown) in addition to being a singer/songwriter. Eric D. Johnson is the longtime leader of folk-rock outfit Fruit Bats, and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaufman is a member of the band Muzz (in addition to Bonny Light Horseman).
In other words, this trio is more than just a convenient label. For its forthcoming second album, Rolling Golden Holy (37d03d), Bonny Light Horseman remains faithful to the traditional sound it crafted on its eponymous 2020 debut album while enhancing the sound with modern touches, giving the album a richer sound.
Standout tracks include “Sweetbread,” “Exile,” “California,” “Fleur de Los” and “Someone to Weep for Me.” Of all the musical genres bucking for a revival, how many people would have had ska-punk near the top of their list?