With Teeth is their fourth studio album, the third being More Bad News, recorded in1996. Most of the tracks on With Teeth are indeed ballads from the Anglo-Scots tradition. Two are even ballads collected by the notorious Child (i.e. "Child Ballads"). "The Gardener" (Child #219) is fairly familiar; a nice Renaissance touch here is the oboe of Amy Ksir, compounded by the lovely fiddle of Helene Zisook. "Jellon Grame" (Child #90) is much more obscure and the lyrics are, as is common with these songs, riveting: will the vile murder be punished in the end? Broadside Electric has added fragments from Denmark and the Faroes, and then put everything to the tune of the Bulgarian "Dospatsko Horo," interweaving cittern and violin and loud drums and guitar. "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm," is oboe-rich, reggae rhythmed and intercolated with the Klezmer tune "Ternovka Sher"; the lyrics provide a bit of comic relief. My own favorite is a perky English nautical ballad, "Royal Oak." "Pull down your colors, you English dogs!" demand the hostile Turks.

With Teeth seldom drags -- even the plodding "Masters Of War" provides an appropriately murky atmosphere for this perpetually timely Bob Dylan cover. Vocals with American accents are often considered a problem with Anglo-Celtic musicians on this side of the pond, but here the strong and wholesome lead vocals of Tom Rhoads are just perfect for the rich musical backing. I must admit that I really do like this album in particular because I am enamoured of the musical traditions Broadside Electric draws on. But what stands out, is how Broadside Electric integrates and contrasts all these wonderful styles! You can sip tea and bang your head at the same time -- and maybe bang your teacup as well!

"...Not quite what you'd expect from a Broadside Electric live album," read the liner notes to Live:Do Not Immerse, recorded at a 2001 concert. Though containing a few of the same songs as With Teeth, the album is different enough that it may appeal to a different genre of music lovers. The live sound seems thinner and there are fewer British traditionals and more European tunes; the setlist is more international and perhaps wittier. "Ampere's Law" for example, will appeal to physicists and electrical engineers! The a capella "Homeless Wassail" is a socially conscious Christmas song. Violionist Zisook does a great job matching Alicia Svigals on the instrumental "Romanian Fantasy #1." On the other hand, the Sephardic songs "Mose Salio de Misrayim" and "Por la Tu Puerta" and a yodeler from Switzerland, "Mir Faare Mit Dr SBB," seem not to have the substance that the Euro-influenced British tracks do, and they also seem to less suited to Rhoads' voice. Or perhaps these international songs require the a little more multi-style adornment to be as interesting and effective as the studio versions.

Still, the musicianship is top-notch on both albums. With Teeth especially will be a joy to electro-folk enthusiasts and that's the album to go for first. Then try the live album to hear what else Broadside Electric does for a musical living!

[Judith Gennett]