Vermilion is an album by the American band the Continental Drifters, released in 1999.[2][3] It was first released in Germany, in 1998.[4]

Production

The drummer Russ Broussard played on the album, replacing Carlo Nuccio.[5] Vermilion was recorded in Maurice, Louisiana, at Dockside Studio.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Robert Christgau	A−[8]
Lincoln Journal Star	[1]
Orange County Register	A[9]
The Republican	[10]

Robert Christgau thought that "the lyrics resolve on home truisms, earned and learned but predictable nonetheless, just like the alt-pop songforms and country-rock groove," and singled out Susan Cowsill for praise.[8] Trouser Press called the album "mature, artistic and affecting," writing that "the eight-minute 'Daddy Just Wants It to Rain' is a monumental and powerful piece of family autobiography."[5] No Depression considered it "graceful, poetic, intimate and deliciously harmonized, but still plenty rock-minded."[11]

CMJ New Music Report wrote that "touching country-gospel harmonies dominate this album, which taps deep into the soul of American roots music."[12] Stereo Review's Sound & Vision opined that "guitarist Robert Mache is the unsung hero of the lot, putting a personal spin on the Neil Young/Robbie Robertson tradition of thrill-ride soloing."[13] The Chicago Tribune declared that the album "vibrates with life, serving up roots rock in all its flavors: tough, tender, twangy, toe-tapping but with more urgency than the genre frequently exhibits (and without the complacency)."[14]

AllMusic called the sound "downright messy at times, with acoustic and electric guitars splayed out around indistinct bass and clattering drums and the occasional mandolin and rubboard."[7]

Track listing

Personnel

• Russ Broussard - drums
• Susan Cowsill - vocals, guitar
• Peter Holsapple - vocals, guitar
• Robert Mache - guitar
• Vicki Peterson - vocals, guitar
• Mark Walton - bass

References