New London Fire – Tired Of This Man

New London Fire is a truly underrated folk-rock band.  Having released five albums over the past eight years, the band has garnered tragically little attention outside of their core fan base.  I was introduced to the band with the release of their Great Recession chronicling sophomore album, The Dirt, The Blood, The Faith, and was outright stunned by the depth of emotion conjured.  Somehow I missed out on the following two albums, but became reacquainted with the offshoot project, Electric Century, before the release of their fifth full length, Tired Of This Man.  

To put it lightly, Tired Of This Man is a politically and personally charged reflection on modern America that doesn’t hesitate to play the cards where they lay.  The album teeters back and forth, between dark folk images, country twang, and a host of other more subtle momentary influences.  Opener “The Fire” is a classically grand New London Fire folk singalong.  Propelled with uplifting mandolin notes, earthy gang vocals and rustic acoustic chords, the song is a natural reminder of the passion that flows through the band’s rural veins.  Songs like “Now I’m Found” might scale back the tempo, but with the inclusion of emotive fiddles and weighty bridges, the track’s delivery is spellbinding in its descriptions of unity and shared vision.  The delicate piano delivering “I Still Believe” reaches for similar subtle atmospheric highs in a style typically associated with the likes of Woody Guthrie. Others like “Now I’m Found” draw upon slight Celtic moments as they build striking romanticized rural landscapes of hills and valleys in a working class anthem of spreading wings and taking flight.

And of course there are the purely Americana leaning tunes.  “You Know I Would” plucks away with a healthy twang and country drawl permeating the band’s folky essence.  Even further in that direction, “I Hope You Hear This Song” induges fully in sliding pedal steel. I wouldn’t want this to wholly define the band, but taken sparingly it affords some welcome variety.

In recent years New London Fire has lightened up their sound, infusing a swanky old timey flare that lightens the mood without diluting their style.  Both the title track and “Momma It’s Alright” infuse regular horn blasts. The songs provide a welcome counterbalance to the band’s darker moments, adding a little pep in its step, and a light breezy feel to inspire hope amidst turmoil.

Tired Of This Man looks to the past to move forward – infusing timeless folk and Americana with themes pertinent to the modern age.  None of this is new to New London Fire, as their back catalogue is chalk full of memorable highlights.  It isn’t their most defining work, but continues to define them. But Tired Of This Man continues to find the band pushing forward, evolving their sound without forfeiting all that they’ve achieved.  In that regard, New London Fire feels fresh but familiar, furthering their reputation as talented spokesmen of modern-day rural America in an urban age.