Quarter to Lonely
Lost State of Franklin

Seeing what Jessica Simpson called a performance in honor of the legendary Dolly Parton makes a mockery of actual musicians who struggle to hone their talent and work ardently to get noticed. It’s enough to make one lose faith in the state of music. Luckily, as karma has it, for every overproduced, over-processed blonde bombshell with a rich daddy there is at least one artist or band who writes the songs they sing and can sling a guitar or two in the process. Luckily for music lovers, Cleveland’s Lost State of Franklin is just that ying to Simpson’s yang.

Quietly making its way into the local conscious, LSOF is a four-piece band, comprised of a female jazz vocalist/actress, gospel-bred guitar player, psychobilly upright bassist, and a singer/songwriter who knows his way around a vocal. Despite their apparent differences; what these four musicians found when they met was a kindred connection and a collective love of good, old-fashioned, honest music. Their debut release, “Quarter to Lonely” reflects the sounds of Grand Ol Opry style country with a hint of blues and melancholy. Scott Franklin writes the songs and his three band mates take equal measure in bringing them to life. Accompanying Franklin’s laid back vocal style, are the steady back beat of David Mooser’s upright bass, and Rob Muzick’s wise guitar-playing; that sounds like it comes from an era pre-dating his grandfather’s gospel roots.

The up-tempo gait of “600 Miles” makes for an easy ride, including the honky tonk guitar solo near song’s end. The steady shuffle of “Trains” and “Fly” walk the line laid out by Johnny Cash. Moving to a slower pace is “Quarter to Lonely” with its languid delivery evoking the days of transistor radios on the porch at night. The band’s old-soul demeanor is reflected lyrically as they avoid the oft-used clichés of modern songs. Rather than rhyming “love scar” with “Nascar,” Franklin writes of being “quarter to lonely” and “spending my money like minutes I’ve earned.”

Former vocalist and mandolin player, Rhia Wisniewski sings on much of the disc’s tracks, expect for “Being Careless.” The final track of the disc showcases Tyler Postma, LSOF’s current female singer. The warm, clear tone of her voice rivals that of indie-queen Neko Case and this heart wrenching duet with Franklin closes the disc on a somber note, including the disappointing feeling that the voice should have been introduced much earlier

It’s here at the end where “Quarter to Lonely” fails the listener. With fifteen tracks, it comes in longer than the average disc. Solid songs, such as the blues-soaked “Ugly Girlfriend” and the lonely-heart ballad “Credits” get hidden in a pile-up at the end. Placing these slower tracks this far back doesn’t allow them their fair due, but rather fades them into the background like the last remaining notes from the jukebox as the bar’s set to close. What the disc does right is to restore hope that true-musicianship and talent exists to today’s music scene. Music fans who appreciate rhythm with their blues and country with their western will enjoy this record. Suffice it to say, the Lost State of Franklin is a good place to find shelter from today’s flash and in the pan(cake makeup) music of today.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Christine Young itsmecayATvisn.net

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