Review: The Washboard Union, Everbound

The latest from acclaimed B.C. trio David Roberts, Aaron Grain, and Chris Duncombe won’t win cheers from genre purists despairing the encroachment of pop sensibilities on absolute torch and twang but dang it if Everbound ain’t more fun than a keg-fueled square-dance on an August eve. 

From Country Thunder, the electrifying, banjo-goosed lead single through to chorus-propelled anthems of Never Run Outta Road and My Weekend Amen, Everbound wears its accessibility proudly, framing The Washboard Union’s tightly braided vocal harmonies with crisp, well-crafted tunes almost ridiculously suited to radio play. The band’s uncommonly chic look, meanwhile — think spiffy early Crowded House meets ZZ Top — shores up the visuals accordingly, ensuring maximum swoon potential when the trio trots out the snuggly/sexy Home Sweet Her in concert.

The album’s clearest concession to straight-up country, the heartfelt, piano-led ballad More Memories Than Wishes (already destined to rival Etta James’s At Last as a wedding DJ’s go-to first dance refrain) deftly shows that our men may be crafty song stylists but they’re coming from a place of real soul. Expect to hear Everbound blasting from car speakers all summer long.

Everbound was released April 24, 2020 on Warner Music.
Listen to it here

-Kim Hughes