In December 2014, Reid Genauer took Assembly of Dust on a tour of the West. They made a stop in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 12 where they were joined by Mark Karan, of RatDog and the Other Ones. Ten songs were picked from this show, mastered and included on Tales from the Oregon Trail.
Reviewing a live album can be difficult, especially when it’s short and every song is a highlight, as is the case with Tales from the Oregon Trail. The 10 tracks on the album contain Assembly of Dust fan favorites with full band and a couple solo acoustic songs performed by Genauer, including a cover of Neil Young’s “Comes a Time,” which is sure to delight. Genauer’s warm, folksy vocals give the song a different feel from Young’s original. The other acoustic song, “Crest of my Wing,” gives a soft, but powerful close to the album.
The full band songs are equally enjoyable. “All That I am Now” is the longest track on the album, clocking in at just over 10 minutes with some great soloing by Karan. The very next track, “Filter,” will have listeners dancing in their seats, cars, or wherever they choose to listen to the album. The jazz/funk jam is upbeat and will leave everyone with an ear-to-ear smile. The album also contains fan-favorites “Mama” and “Rachel” that always delight.
All-in-all Tales from the Oregon Trail is a fantastic album from start to finish. It is sure to provide an enjoyable listen for Assembly of Dust fans, old and new alike. It’s currently available for free streaming at the band’s SoundCloud page or for download at the band’s website.
Key Tracks: Filter, Rachel, Samuel Aging, Comes a Time
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