NEW MUSIC
MADISON CUNNINGHAM THE LAST BISON
For the Sake of the Rhyme SÜDA
When people complain about a lack of artistry Circa 2011-2013, Ben Hardesty’s project “The
in modern music, they usually just aren’t Last Bison” (sometimes just “Bison”) presented
looking in the right places. Cunningham’s 2017 two delightful albums of gruffly sung, high-
collection Love, Lose, Remember, was one of energy acoustic pop akin to the more rustic side
the delightful surprises of the year, a literate of Avett Brothers or Rend Collective. This time
acoustic collection of thoughtful songs in the out, he aims closer to the mainstream. Hardesty
spirit of Joni Mitchell. Since then, Cunningham has broadened his vocal style and solidified his
has become a musical fixture on Chris Thile’s ensemble with Andrew Benfante on keyboards
radio variety show “Live from Here.” For this and Amos Housworth on bass, adding swelling
new project, she’s traded her acoustic guitar for analog synth sounds, sequencing, and vocal
fingerpicked electric, but the singer/songwriter effects. “Anywhere You Go” even verges into
spirit that pervaded her previous work is disco funk. The impressionistic lyrics are frankly
still very much in evidence. Album opener difficult to decode without already knowing
“Beauty into Cliches” expresses the tensions of what they’re supposed to be about, but in
songwriting. “I’ll never feel fine about shaping interviews, Hardesty has explained that they
the meaning to fit in the rhyme.” The delicate deal with his memories of growing up on the
“Last Boat to Freedom” laments a career mission field in Bolivia. Highlight track: Blood.
requiring a life indoors. “I watch the sun as it
freckles the skin of travelers, and here I turn
another shade of white.” “Location” and “All at
Once” deal with estrangement. “John Wayne”
is about the Orange County, CA airport, not the
actor. “People filter through this old town like
a colandar,” she muses, with vocals alternately
wistful and searing. Cunningham also includes
a cover of “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright,”
kindred spirit Paul Simon’s tribute to his
departing partner Art Garfunkel, its bossa nova
rhythm and challenging chords no less beautiful
now than they were in 1970.
Robert Berman
Robert is a Sunday School teacher, music nerd,
and acoustic guitar enthusiast. He lives in rural
Tennessee with his wife and three boys.