Today’s Random Album of the Day is Tending Fires. This is a split record between Wood Spider and Niko and the Juggler Meadow Family Band. These bands are primarily folk punk.

Wood Spider have various stringed instruments and also qualify as Chamber Folk. It’s quite good stuff really. A weird mix of vocal aggression and harmonization with lovely string instrumentation. I think some songs could go on longer to be honest. Others are just right.

Niko & the Juggler Meadow Family Band is much more subdued. Still folk punk but less yelly and less tight as well. Much more violin or it at least sticks out more. I liked them and they fit my morning mood better to be honest. But they are less melodic and rhythmic. Which isn’t to say that they lack these things. Just not as smooth a sound as Wood Spider. The recording quality is not as good as for Wood Spider.

There is a “Hidden Track” from Wood Spider that I didn’t love but my wife didn’t hate it at first. Then said she was over it half way through. Then said she liked it. Which is about right.

Rating: 9.0

Favorite Track(s): City Song (Wood Spider). Dark Eyes (in New Orleans) (Wood Spider), It’s Been Colder (Niko & The Juggler Meadow Family Band), When I have Just Learned to Sew (Niko & The Juggler Meadow Family Band)

Keep or Trash: Keep. Good stuff. My wife was also a fan of this album which factors in obviously. She did prefer Wood Spider.