The RadioActivist

Acoustic balladeer Absinthe Rose joins New England eclectic collective H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E. on this punk-by-association split on Rodent Popsicle Records. While Kimbo Rose was mostly solo on her previous release, Digging Ditches and Escaping Holes, she’s joined here by Toxic Narcotic/Mouth Sewn Shut members here for a sound that’s both more animated and whole, moving each song forth with an energy and dynamic previously not heard. The additions of a snapping drum beat and steady rolling bass help transform what was an occasionally tepid solo acoustic engagement into what more closely resembles a folk-punk—or at least acoustic punk—ensemble. Rose’s voice is soulful and full, with a slight Southern curl belying her Oregonian roots. On “Upon a Drift”, she sings wistfully: “When you have a closet of skeletons / And you wonder how you got them all in / Piled high and everlasting / And when you’re done, there’s more than you began.” At first I thought H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E. was a dumb name. Then I ...

The moniker Absinthe Rose is held by current Bostonian/former Oregonian folk songwriter Kimbo Rose, who blends acoustic traditions with punk ideals and political undertones on Screech Owl Records' debut release Digging Ditches & Escaping Holes. While generally accompanied only by her acoustic guitar here, Rose is joined by session stalwarts Bill Damon and Rich DellaRocca of Mouth Sewn Shut on bass and drums, respectively, for the album’s final track, “Dotted Line.” It’s worth mentioning first as it’s one of the better songs on the record, and stands out from the majority of the other cuts for obvious reasons. While songs on solo acoustic records often have a tendency to run together and linger idly, Rose keeps her compositions fairly succinct and generally at a pretty swift pace for acoustic strumming. The lyrics on Digging Ditches & Escaping Holes are extremely vernacular, but still effective for the style and aesthetic. On “I Believe,” Rose sings, “We can achieve a real p...