Rehab Massachusetts is a stunning piece of work, plain and simple. The record is a concept project – the brainchild of Thane Thomsen – that tells the story of self-discovery and struggle within the 12 Step Recovery Program. With each song based on one of the steps, the record really shines as a complete body of art, though the twelve individual pieces certainly stand on their own.  The record is a shimmering landscape of acoustic guitars, pedal steel, and brilliant harmonies that matches the mood of the subject matter perfectly.

Rehab Massachusetts is a collaboration involving musicians from a few of Northampton’s most popular bands. 11 of the 12 songs were written by Thomsen, who fronts the Figments and plays bass for Lo Fine. The concept for the record grew out of a discussion Thane had with Terry Flood and Steve Sanderson, both of the band Drunk Stuntmen. Terry plays guitar on the recording and Steve composed the song for Step 11. Kevin O’Rourke, front man for Lo Fine, plays bass and supplies vocal harmonies. Brian Marchese, drummer for the Figments and Lo Fine, pounds the skins. Scott Hall of the Drunk Stuntmen plays keyboards. Bruce Tull, from Lo Fine, plays pedal steel on most of the songs and acoustic guitar on Step 6. Bruce is also responsible for recording much of the project at his former place of residence, The Woodmont. The rest of the recording was done by Mark Alan Miller, who also mixed the record at Slaughterhouse. Dan Richardson mastered Rehab Massachusetts up in The Basement.

Northampton songwriting doesn’t get any better or more poignant than this.

Discography | catalog | audio

#BT-RM01 | Rehab Massachusetts | CD, released 2005