There are times when you could be surrounded by the tastiest morsels from cuisines far and wide. The best that the world’s chefs can offer, prepared from the very finest ingredients, placed with the rarest of skill on fine bone china. Surrounded by this feast you realize in a blinding epiphany that all you want is your mama’s home cooking, simple, hearty and prepared with love.
That is the equally true of the excellent "Mama’s Kitchen" by Minneapolis based band The Cultivators. An album of simple, earthy pleasures. There is nothing here that can claim true originality, nothing that hints at tortured genius or unique perspective. This is an old fashioned blending of simple musical genres, played with the sure aplomb of long term musicians.
The main focus of The Cultivators is Dan Israel, a Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist who has been plying his trade from Chicago to Texas to Minnesota over a ten-year period. His voice hints at Tom Petty in a lot of places, Elvis Costello in others. His guitar work is assured and with a few exceptions plays its tune without outstaying its welcome. His songwriting is out of the top draw and this twelve song CD never produces a dull tune. The songs are a little bit country and a larger portion of rock. Think Tom Petty, Dylan (Senior and Junior), Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen and The Jayhawks and you will have a sense of the style Mr Israel is blending.
The production, like the songwriting, is a joy, this is an album that is as easy to listen to as a hot bath is to slip into. The use of cello, steel guitar and Hammond organ is adroitly judged and nothing is ever allowed to get in the way of the simple tunes and pleasant lyrics. I want to mention the stand out tracks, but they are all equally enjoyable. If I have to pick a favorite it is "Wrong Side", the greatest Tom Petty anthem he never wrote, an absolute peach.
So your Mama’s cooking will never win awards or gain a huge worldwide following, so what. It is wholesome, warming and never grows tiresome. Likewise with The Cultivators music, a beautiful blend. Go to their website via the links below and listen to their songs. Personally I have this gem of a CD, and no one is taking it from me. Highly recommended.

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