Despite having nine albums under their belt, Session Americana are not a band whose name is likely to trip off the lips in conversation. A shame really as this collective, originally formed around informal jam sessions in a pub in Massachusetts in 2003, have recorded with several well known performers such as Anais Mitchell, Kris Delmhorst, Laura Cortese and Jefferson Hamer (all of whom appear on this album). The Rattle And The Clatter is a retrospective collection, a best of if you wish, which plucks 16 songs from their nine albums so far (with a new one in the offing).
The album title comes from the second song here, a live capture of the band in a well burnished and sleek blues rock mode on Making Hay which originally appeared on a 2018 live album. From the same album, Rodney Crowell’s I Ain’t Living Long Like This is a turbo charged country rocker while another live cut (from 2011’s Live album) Doreen finds the band having fun on a rural mandolin fuelled song which recalls the likes of The Gourds. The audience certainly seem to be enjoying it as they heartily join in on this loose limbed fun number.
While the above should encourage one to check out the band live if you get the chance, the studio cuts here are all memorable also. Beer Town chugs along quite wonderfully in a manner reminiscent of the Colorblind James Experiment while Helena (written by Jefferson Hamer) is a sly mix of gothic horror and Byrds’ like harmonies and jangle guitars. The band do flit from style to style but, like musical chameleons, they always blend in.
With a basic core of Billy Beard, Jon Bistline, Ry Cavanaugh, Dinty Child, and Jim Fitting, the band have seen auxiliary members come and go and several of the songs here feature guest vocals although the liner notes don’t make clear who sings what. Nevertheless Trip Around The Sun features a female lead on a sublime song, replete with rippling strings while Love Changes Everything has Laura Cortese singing with the boys in the band on a song which recalls the heyday of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. We have to mention the opening song, Pack Up the Circus. Produced by Anais Mitchell, it sets the band’s wares from the outset. Wonderfully played, perfectly sang and rippling with a very cool country rock vibe it’s a grand start to what is an excellent album.