Album Review: Back South — The Dirt Yard Choir
Led by singer, songwriter and cigar box guitarist Todd Cecil, Back South is a WNC-based trio that specializes in country blues with a decidedly hard-edged rock sensibility. Imagine ZZ Top without all the filigree, leaning back toward their blues roots. Now picture a guitarist who plays a custom instrument fashioned out of a cigar box and broom handles. Back him up with a solid drummer in Scott Harte, joined by lead harmonica player Mike Fore. The result is Back South.
That spare set of instruments yields a deeply textured sound on The Dirt Yard Choir. But the unconventional trio makes the most of its intentionally limited musical arsenal; on tracks like “Muddy Water,” Cecil and Fore spar on their respective instruments while Harte keeps the song moving forward with a solid back beat.
There are few if any production tricks or gimmicks on The Dirt Yard Choir; it’s raw and real. Occasional guests add unexpected tone color to the album; listen closely and you’ll hear Theremin and saxophone. Back South delivers a rollicking set of fifteen songs suffused with knowing humor. “Sasquatch” may remind listeners of a certain age of Wall of Voodoo’s “Mexican Radio,” but like all the tracks on the album, it’s a wholly original creation from the just-twisted-enough minds of Todd Cecil and his band mates in Back South.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.