American Aquarium “The Fear of Standing Still”

Visceral personal narrative and social comment in folk-rock setting.

American Aquarium CDs sit next to those of the Drive by Truckers and Jason Isbell in this reviewer’s collection. Isbell and DBT stalwart Patterson Hood would doubtless approve given their previous collaborations with B.J. Barham who has maintained a consistently high quality of writing through ten studio albums with his band and one under his name. Many quality guests have appeared on previous releases and this one has Jamie Lin Wilson and Katie Pruitt with Shooter Jennings reprising his producer role.

Commenting on this album Barham is quoted as wanting to “showcase how big and anthemic we can be”. The first track, ‘The Crier’ certainly bears this out and would be a fine concert opener with a driving bass line and snarling guitars but it’s the personal aspect of his lyrics that is most prominent throughout. There is a parallel with Jason Isbell’s history of finding peace in sobriety after personal chaos. Barham is prone to an even darker tone as he acknowledges in the next track, ‘Messy as a Magnolia’, a notch down in ferocity but maintaining the momentum of the opener. “There’s a darkness deep down in my bones, a sickness I can’t shake”, and again there are echoes of a familiar Isbell theme of being saved by the graces of a woman which he returns to in ‘Piece by Piece’. ‘Cherokee Purples‘ slows things down further but has a catchy guitar hook and is a fond reminiscence of childhood. Even here the loss of a loved relative leaves a residual sadness. ‘The Getting Home’ picks up the pace again and is one of three tracks where Barham shares the writing credits, this one with Lori Mckenna and Hailey Whitters. McKenna shares the vocals on a song with the theme of the competition between the road and domestic life which is also the focus of the rather subdued title track. On ‘Southern Roots‘ we’re in DBT territory with a fine ballad exploring the contradictions of Southern identity. “Those boys back home are much too proud of this god-forsaken battleground & that flag they won’t take down.” “The Curse of Growing Old ” is about the regrets of losses along the way to an inevitable death. It’s a bit of a downer but an effective one. The penultimate track ‘Babies Have Babies‘ places the argument for the right to choose in a very eloquent and gentle context. The album is completed with ‘Head Down Feet Moving’ and despite the quality of what’s preceded it, it’s something of a release to have a straight-ahead rocker to finish. Barham puts his songwriting philosophy right out there “I’ll never have to tell my daughter that I chose the mighty dollar over speaking up on things weighing heavy on my mind”.

This is a consistently fine addition to Barham’s catalogue. His straightforward storytelling and social comment remain as refreshing as ever. The band is powerful and the production is sensitive to the songs. American Aquarium deserves their place in the americana top division.