We Ski Cousins | First Tracks

Published: June 30, 2008

Cousins they’re not, just good pickin’ friends and ski buddies from Great Falls. The We Ski Cousins’ first effort, First Tracks, features guitars and more guitars, and good storytelling. The collection includes originals by all, with Tony Lucas and Dave Elmquist trading off on most of the songs.

Multi-picker and singer Lucas starts it off, with the slow saga “On and On (“a phone call ain’t a dime no more”). His banjo-backed mining song, “Glory Hole,” tells of the spot “where miners lose their soul”; and his folk-rock ballad, “Ride Against the Wind,” features great three-part harmonies.

In-between, Dave Elmquist sings his Ventures-sounding “Lottery Loser;” and his ballad, “Snow Angel,” about falling in love on the slopes. He sings-talks on “Sky Blue,” his gravelly voice providing nice counterpoint to Lucas’s mandolin stylings.

Jim Gold debuts his bluegrasser, “Tear Drop,” about the sadness of mistakes made, and having to pay for them, while Lucas slips and slides around on dobro. And Lucas’s “On the Road” canters along with the fellow who can’t stay in one place very long.

“When Frankie Went Down” is a wrenching tale about suicide. Lucas solos on acoustic guitar and sings in a slight whisper, so emotional he’s barely able to get the words out. That’s powerful storytelling.

Elmquist’s “Pond Tune” is delightful, and could be, should be, a children’s song. It features great lyrics, cool harmonies, and inventive hooks (“not about a boat”). Lucas’s introspective “I Should Have Known” rounds out the song list. Great production values from Lucas sparkle throughout. Let’s hope the cousins get more skiing in, and more albums out.

Visit the group at www.myspace.com/theweskicousins.

- Mariss McTucker