Gaston Light - Peel

Gaston Light – Peel
2011, Idol Records

Dallas-born and based (by way of Los Angeles) Gaston Light brings a musical melting pot on his debut album, Peel.  Born Jason Corcoran, Gaston Light blends a musical melting pot of roots rock, country, soul, blues and folk, while showing a surprising lyrically subtlety for a twenty-two year old singer/songwriter.

Peel opens in provocative fashion with “Athens, TX”, giving the account of a murder in the first person from the one who got away with it.  The song is not as disturbing as it probably should be.  “Morning Fog” has a melancholy, sing-song air that is aurally appealing, even if the vocal line is a bit flat energy-wise.  The arrangement is nicely structured, and the guitar work lends a full sound to the composition.  “Kiss The Hive” is intriguing; Gaston Light uses an angular guitar sound to create an unsettled dynamic.  It’s unclear whether this is intentional, but it almost sounds as if he’s on to something sonically.  “In A Casket” shines from the middle of the album; it’s a great tune, albeit with an unusual premise.  It’s a catchy, roots rock number with some impressive pedal steel work going on in the background, and light gives a surprising vocal turn that’s one of the highlights of the album.

Gaston Light works his way through numbers such as “Half Awake”, “Close Your Good Eye” and “Crown”, while finding small moments in the catchy fun of “Xanax Blues” and the sappy/sweet “I’ll Wait For You (Please Wait For Me)”.  Light’s voice is pleasant to listen to, but there is a passive quality to his vocal style that can be interpreted as a real lack of energy or conviction.  It may just be Light mindfully working around his own vocal limitations, but if so, it challenges him to raise the energy level in the vocal lines in order to stay connected with listeners.  Musically, Peel is above average.  Light shows a penchant for unusual sounds and construction while staying married to traditional song forms.  His ear is excellent, as you’ll hear in the instrumental mixes woven into the seams of each song on Peel.  It’s safe to say that Gaston Light shows a lot of promise, but is still figuring out where he fits musically.  Peel, however, is a solid start.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Gaston Light at www.gastonlight.com or www.facebook.com/gastonlight. 

CD                              MP3              

        iTunes.

Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed.  Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com. 

Kevin Beadles - You Can't Argue With Water

Kevin Beadles - You Can't Argue With Water
2010, Ripple Music

Kevin Beadles is a singer/songwriter from Berkeley, California who mixes strains of pop/rock, folk and Americana in a fashion that calls to mind Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams. An Award-winning songwriter, Beadles has built a solid regional following in the Western US. On July 13, 2010, Beadles releases his debut album, You Can't Argue With Water, a collection of eleven tunes that shows off the highs and lows of Beadles' songwriting ability.

Beadles opens with "Shine", which might be one of the best pop/rock tunes to cross this desk this year. It's an optimistic number about love staying fresh and standing the test of time with a sing-along chorus that is likely to move into your cranium and set up for a long stay. "Shine" has huge commercial potential, both as a single and in the licensing realm. "Mrs. Jones Cadillac" is a morality tale about the way people hold on to negative emotions and the effect they can have. It's a solid, well-written tune with a country flavor. "High" shows off Beadles' dashing falsetto voice in a story of unrequited love. If you're like most people you've lived the story Beadles tells in "High" at least once; the song is a charming representation of the hopeful hopelessness involved.

"You Can't Argue With Water" is all about going with the flow in relationships and in life; a sense that there's a natural flow to things and that it's foolhardy to fight fate. The clothes make the man in "Sharkskin", an entertaining number about humanity's ability to fool itself into being stronger than we are. "Where We Came From" is a declaration of collective self from the band, and an acknowledgement of the need to be true to yourself. Things get slow for a couple of songs, but Beadles recovers nicely with "A Love Sublime". It's a catchy early rock n roll tune with a great vocal line and a low-key but snappy feel. You Can't Argue With Water closes with the sweet remembrance of "Indian Summer", a well-meant but cliché look back at an old love affair.

Kevin Beadles shows an ability to craft fine pop songs in various setting on You Can't Argue With Water. The occasional diversion into the musically mundane realms occurs, but on balance You Can't Argue With Water is a great listening experience. Beadles has a highly pleasant voice, and instrumentally his band is excellent. Some of the material here gets a bit too caught up in the sound to remember that energy lay at the heart of even quiet music, but after hearing Beadles at his best you'll be willing to forgive the occasional lapse.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Kevin Beadles at http://www.kevinbeadles.com/ or http://www.myspace.com.kevinbeadles/.  You Can't Argue With Water is available as either a CD or Download from Amazon.com.  Digital copies are also available from iTunes.

Review: Ron Hawkins – Live At The Allendale Theater; Buffalo, NY - November 14, 2009

Ron Hawkins – Live At The Allendale Theater
Buffalo, NY - November 14, 2009

The first time I saw Ron Hawkins perform was in 1993, heading up his band Lowest Of The Low. Hawkins was engaging and full of youthful (and at times chemically enhanced) vigor back in the day. He had a compelling voice, an adept hand at crafting lyrics and an honest approach to songwriting that rivaled folks like Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and poet Charles Bukowski. Flash forward to 2009, and a solo show from Hawkins at Buffalo’s Allendale Theatre, the home of Buffalo’s Theater Of Youth. The stage was sparse, with both bat wings curtained, the stage dressed in black, a few speakers, two microphones and a chair for cellist Alex McMaster.

Ron Hawkins strode to the mic and tore into the first song, Born To It in a kinetic opening that foretold how the night would go: a long, slow burn bursting with energy and panache. The crowd of about 250 folks, ranging from twenty-somethings to AARP members, was very responsive; going willingly with Hawkins to each new musical tale. Don’t Be Long was a particularly powerful and intense performance, with Hawkins ringing every bit of angst out of the moment that was possible. He then turned around and absolutely ripped the roof off on Bite Down Hard. (Waitin’ On) My New Heart got quite a reaction from at least one patron, a fact that amused the crowd and Hawkins himself.

To list highlights from the show would nearly run afoul of the atmosphere Hawkins created on stage Saturday night. The show was one long, subtle crescendo with small peaks as crept to an intense musical boil. Out Of The Black was particularly enjoyable, and The Prodigal Sun carried the weight of autobiography. Hawkins also set up songs wonderfully, tearing through Lowest Of The Low's The Last Recidivist before settling into the moving DFW. For emotional weight, this felt like the centerpiece of the night, and closed out the main set. Neither the crowd nor Hawkins had had enough, however. Hawkins returned in grand style, with a blistering acoustic rendition of For The Hand of Magdalena from Lowest Of The Low's first album, Shakespeare, My Butt. Cellist McMaster rejoined Hawkins for the final two songs, Telltale Heart and a stunning cover of Ryan Adams' My Sweet Carolina.

This was one of those rare shows where you're on the edge of your seat the entire night. Hawkins had the whole crowd in the palm of his hand. What impressed me most about the show was Hawkins himself, who was extremely human on stage. I don't mean the fake sort of "I'm one of you" vibe you get from aging rock stars, but an authenticity that can't be manufactured. Hawkins was engaged and confident in "the moment" of performing, but was humble and occasionally even seemed taken aback by the positive reaction he received from the crowd. Hawkins still sings songs that touch on the injustices and pitfalls of being human in a world where humanity is undervalued, but does so as a man who is finally, perhaps, happy with himself and what he's been able to do. That inner grace makes his stories of grit and grandeur all the more powerful.

Hawkins is a rock star in his own right, with one Hall Of Fame induction under his belt for his time with Lowest Of The Low. The young man I saw 16 years ago was too distracted to appreciate moments like this show; but the Ron Hawkins I saw on stage Saturday night was taking it all in and giving it back to the crowd. They loved him for it; and for he first time he might have believed it.

While Hawkins was the reason all were there, Alex McMaster added both her cello skills and vocals to the performance (as well as one of the meanest Rock grimaces I've seen in a while). Whether filling in the sound, providing harmony or counter-melodies or occasionally stretching the sound in ways hard to imagine from just one instrument, McMaster was an integral part of the evening without ever stealing the spotlight.

Ron Hawkins will be touring Canada with Billy Bragg throughout the month of November, 2009. You can learn more about Ron Hawkins at http://www.ronhawkins.com/. You can purchase CDs and/or downloads from http://www.victimlesscapitalism.com/. Hawkins was previously Wildy's World Artists Of The Month for August, 2009. Check out our interview with Ron Hawkins, as well as reviews of 10 Kinds Of Lonely and Chemical Sounds.

Set List

1. Born To It (Chemical Sounds)
2. Genevieve (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
3. Don’t Be Long (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
4. Bite Down Hard (Crackstatic)
5. From The Alta Loma Hotel (Chemical Sounds)
6. Lulu (The Secret Of My Excess)
7. (Waitin’On) My New Heart (Greasing The Star Machine)
8. The Devil Went Down (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
9. Dead Man (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
10. Everywhere And Nowhere (Sordid Fiction – LOTL)
11. Sofa Star (Chemical Sounds)
12. Turned Around (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
13. Out Of The Black (Chemical Sounds)
14. Giulietta The Just (Sordid Fiction – LOTL)
15. The Prodigal Sun (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
16. Peace And Quiet (Chemical Sounds)
17. The Last Recidivist (Sordid Fiction)
18. DFW (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
19. For The Hand Of Magdalena (Shakespeare, My Butt)
20. Telltale Heart (10 Kinds Of Lonely)
21. My Sweet Carolina (Ryan Adams cover)

Note: The photo above was not from the Allendale show but is from Hawkins' website. If anyone has photos from the actual show and would like attribution we'd be happy to post them.

Review: Sharif - Kisses And Lies

Sharif - Kisses And Lies
2008, Cursing Furniture Publishing

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Sharif certainly has significant presence in the music industry. Rave reviews for both his recording and live performances are an indication, but for the real story just take a look at the sort of people pitching in on Sharif’s latest album, Kisses And Lies. His backing band includes Tim Bradshaw (John Mayer, David Gray), Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams), Mark Goldenberg (Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr), Stewart Miles (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Shawn Colvin) and Brian Jones (Mandy Moore, Liz Phair). Additionally, appearances by Rhett Miller (The Old 97’s) and Robb MacLean (Limbeck) bring added interest. Kisses And Lies is self-produced and should serve to open a lot of eyes and ears to the talent of Sharif.

Kisses And Lies opens with Far From You, a vibrant and catchy tune about moving on after a relationship. Sharif has a pleasant voice that soars in this setting. Rhett Miller (The Old 97's) sits in on Dark Side Of The Dawn, a great bit of easy Americana about one way to cope with loss. This one will definitely get your toes tapping, and finds Sharif sounding a bit like Jason Plumb playing with Blue Rodeo. Another Wasted Rose is a brilliant bit of songwriting; it's not your typical country song of heartbreak. Very well written, Another Wasted Rose is full of strong imagery and an absolutely unforgettable chorus. There's nothing flashy here, just amazing songwriting. Worth The Fall represents the realization that even a relationship that ended badly was worth the time he had. The song is melancholy and a bit lost in a mix of sorrow and reverie.

By Your Side casts a mid-tempo devotion of expression; it's the classic "I'll Be There For You" statement in song and leads into Oceans Of Trouble. Oceans Of Trouble finds Sharif still mired in his loss; it's all he can think/write/sing about at this point in the album. Sharif goes off the beaten path a bit with The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, a vaguely off but highly enjoyable song. Sharif celebrates the joy of love on Deeper In Her Arms. The upbeat Americana arrangement has a great sound, border on early Rock N Roll with an R&B backbeat. Sharif seems to struggle a bit for much of the rest of the album, which songs such as Memories Like A Melody, The Price You Pay, Do I Want You Enough and Moment Of Trust having a marginal impression on the public at large. Sharif recovers in time for the last track, however. I Won't Need Your Kisses Anymore is a great closer. The energy that was lost for much of the second half of the album returns in a Blues-flavored, old school Country tune you won't soon forget.

Sharif turns in both great songwriting and performance efforts on Kisses And Liars. The first half of the album is absolutely brilliant while the second half gets mired in itself. It's as if all of the strongest material was placed on the album first and then weaker tracks were added later on. Don't get me wrong, the weaker tracks here don't necessarily equate to a problem, they just don't stand up well against the superior quality songwriting evident on the first half of the album. Either way, Kisses And Liars is worth checking out.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Sharif at http://www.sharifmusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/sharif. You can purchase Kisses And Lies as either a CD or download from CDBaby.com.

Review: Westerly - This Lonesome Town

Westerly - This Lonesome Town

2009, Westerly Music LLC

Westerly is a band, appropriately enough, with roots in the Western United States. Finding a common meeting point in Seattle, Joshua Schramm (vox/guitar/harmonica); Kory Nagler (vox/guitars/harmonica/keys); Bob Hyde (bass) and Andrew Squire (drums/percussion) have created a blend of Country, Rock and Folk that’s as accessible to fans of 60’s and 70’s icons Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty as it is to fans of Ryan Adams, Wilco and Drive-By Truckers. Driven by ambivalence between life on the road and putting down roots, Westerly bridges the gap between genres by being all and none at the same time. Westerly’s sophomore album, This Lonesome Town, was released in March of 2009.

This Lonesome Town opens with Pour The Wine, a gentle and overly generic country tune. The sound here is pleasant but the song doesn't make much of an impression. Every Word has a California Country sound reminiscent of The Eagles. It's a decent tune in a fairly predictable arrangement. This Lonesome Town is a pleasant composition and well arranged, although the lyrics are highly repetitive. The song has a quiet sway that gives it a lullaby-like feel. Westerly breaks out with the high energy Third Wheel, perhaps the best song on the disc. This song could go straight to Country radio as-is. Memphis and Holding On plod their way through to Weightless, a moderate tempo Country/Rocker with an infectious nature and some excellent vocal harmonies. Black Hat and Slow Trail follow a somnolent path, musically. Before You Came picks up the energy a bit in what might be the best song on the disc. Westerly performs and inspired rendition of The Rolling Stones' Wild Horses before closing out with 30 Seconds, the most ambitious composition on the disc.

Westerly makes a decent impression with This Lonesome Town. Instrumentally the band is excellent. From a songwriting perspective there are highs and lows, but generally the results are above average. This Lonesome Town is a pleasant listen that grows at the intersection of Rock, Country and Folk. There are a couple of weeds in the grass, but on the whole it's a good listen.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Westerly at http://www.westerlymusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/westerlyseattle. You can purchase This Lonesome Town directly from the band as either a CD or download, where the download option allows you to choose your own price.

Review: Aaron Allen - A Place Called Hell

Aaron Allen - A Place Called Hell
2009, Aaron Allen

Chatham, Ontario, Canada's Aaron Allen wears big shoes quietly. His second album, Aaron Allen & The Small City Saints was on CHRW's Top 100 albums list for 2008, with chart appearances in cities such as Guelph, London, Quebec, Windsor and Calgary. He writes for late night talk show J.R. Diggs' Man With A Van, and has developed a reputation for powerful and introspective songwriting. Allen's third album, A Place Called Hell is a family affair, with brother Myles on drums and wife Aimee on harmonies, piano, organ and bass. Influences such as Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams and Neil Young color Allen's songwriting, which is rich in tapestry and deep in content.

A Place Called Hell opens with No One Knows, a plodding bit of Emo/Shoegaze/Americana that is a difficult listen. A Placed Called Hell is a straight-forward bit of Americana about hitting bottom and being totally aware to the extent of attempting to come to terms with it. It's a stark and resigned song that's almost too calm. Anyone is something of a quasi-peppy pity party set to music. Backbone hits on a down and dirty blues riff for a song about carnal pleasure as an escape from the dregs. You won't be able to sit/stand still while this one is playing. Allen goes for the acoustic side on New Blues, a song that contends that things never work out and the whole thing (life) is rigged.

Moving On is a classic bit of acoustic/electric blues. The lyrics don't matter on this one, you'll just be glad you listened. Oh My Lord takes the blues on a more Rock angle, halfway between Led Zeppelin and Cream. This is by far the best tune on the disc up to this point. Run is a gorgeous piece of self-loathing. The guitar accompaniment is soothing and calm while the lyrics are the pulpy aftermath of a beaten psyche. Dark and light intermingle here for a work of beauty that's as uplifting as it is depressing. A Song For Her is a musical eulogy of sorts; A Place Called Hell was written in the wake up Allen's mother's death. Taken from that perspective the entire album is about healing; or not as the case may be. A Song For Her is full of love; written from an emotionally constricted place that anyone who's ever lost someone dear will recognize. You'll also want to check out I Woke Up Today and You And Me.

A Place Called Hell is an album that leaves me conflicted as a listener and critic. I want to like it in part because of what it represents, and in many instances I do, but there are times when the feel of album, in spite of the back story, is more about holding on to pain than healing. This may have simply reflect where Allen was emotionally in the crafting of this disc, yet without the back story (and maybe even with it), I could see some listeners drawing the conclusion that A Place Called Hell is largely self-indulgent in perpetuating suffering rather than healing. Allen is a decent songwriter, who rises above on occasion, and there are some great turns here, but the overall feel of the record is not one that is likely to draw a lot of fans outside of the Robert Smith worshippers (and yea, there are many). It's a decent, dark effort; I'll look forward to seeing where Allen goes next.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Aaron Allen at www.myspace.com/aaronallenmusic. You can stream the tracks from A Place Called Hell on Allen’s MySpace page. No word yet on a release date, but Allen’s first CD can be purchase directly through his MySpace page.

Review: Straw Dogs - Love And Then Hope

Straw Dogs – Love And Then Hope
2009, Crafty Records

High energy blended in subtle textures. This is an apt description of the music of Straw Dogs, a Seattle Americana quartet that's spreading out of the great northwest faster than influenza on an airplane. Singer/songwriter/guitarists Dave von Beck and Darren Smith feed off the energy and support of bassist Eric Bryson and drummer Casey Miller to create a sound that's part, CSN, part Son Volt and part Ryan Adams. Their latest album, Love And Then Hope is a collection of fourteen intelligent and well-written songs that push at the boundaries of Americana while exemplifying the very soul of the genre.

Love And Then Hope opens with Lie Awake, a song you'll be hearing in one way, shape or form. Lie Awake falls firmly between Country and Rock, but is so well written and so full of real emotion that its hard to imagine this song not being picked up for niche radio as well as for licensing opportunities. Besides it's not often you hear male vulnerability in song outside of canned ballads, which this most definitely is not. Could You is a very interesting musical construct, combing the weird, nervous energy of early REM with the highly melodic and dark timbered sounds of bands like Blue Rodeo. I could see this song doing very well on Americana radio. Down My Hall is a highly accessible pop/country song built around a very strong melody and great harmonies.

Something More is a hopeful love song that looks back at a broken relationship and wishing for another chance. The song is wonderfully tuneful and features both vocalists in harmony. It's a very mellow vibe but perhaps the well-written song on the disc. Waiting By The Gate is an inspired bit of songwriting. The song has a very earthy tone to it that's based in the protagonist's near-desperation. Make sure to give this one a careful listen. My favorite song on the disc is Then Maria. The sway to this song will draw you in, and the singer's pure devotion is palpable. As always, the chorus is full of great harmony, and the melody line will stick in your head for days. Other highlights include Serious Love, Remember My Garden, Numbers and First Time.

Love And Then Hope is one of those albums that you could sit and deconstruct for hours. The musicianship is top notch, as is the songwriting. The more upbeat tunes will haunt your brain, as von Beck and Smith have a unique knack for pop hooks embedded deep in their Americana sound. The heart in the music is distinctive, whether it's an optimistic upbeat country rocker, a sad ballad or a melancholy musical mood. Straw Dogs deserve significant attention; Seattle isn't big enough to hold them.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Straw Dogs at http://www.strawdogs.com/ or www.myspace.com/strawdogsmusic. You can purchase a copy of Love And Then Hope at www.cdbaby.com/cd/strawdogs5.

Review: Randy Stern - Give

Randy Stern - Give
2009, Heyday Records

Randy Stern’s resume is full of Indie Cred and even some big names. As the former singer/songwriter/guitarist of Brooklyn’s The Nerve, Stern gained significant respect and admiration in the New York City scene. He ultimately was invited to play in Bumblefoot’s (Guns N Roses) touring band for a 2005 jaunt through Europe. In 2006, The Nerve disbanded, and Stern began to pursue solo writing and performance. Putting aside the punk sound, Stern has striven for a more mature, subtle songwriting style. With the help of producer Hugh Pool (Patty Smith, Rufus Wainwright, Hubert Sumlin, The National), Stern has firmly established himself as a competent solo artist with his debut album, Give.

Give opens with Deeper And Deeper, a pop-oriented Americana tune with real potential. Better Days is a solid, Southern Rock tune that's steeped in the blues and Rock N Roll. Stern has a very pleasant sounding voice that works very well with the blend of Rock, Americana & Pop he purveys. The Night is a highly catchy and commercial sounding track that could garner some attention on the radio. My favorite track on the album is the R&B/early Rock gem The Only Woman; complete with walking bass line. Into Your Heart is the pre-requisite mix-tape offering, although this isn't your typical love ballad. Stern gets highly personal here, eschewing cliche in favor of honest emotion. The song is very touching and might even make a good wedding song for the right couple. Other highlights include Home, In The Midnight and Ain't Dead Yet.

Stern has a home grown style to his playing and singing that is refreshing. You'll hear shades of Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan and even Ryan Adams running through his song, but in the end Randy Stern isn't really like any of them. His is an original voice in a crowded field. Give isn't flashy, there are no big lights or whistles here, just good, honest music. Make sure you check out Randy Stern.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Randy Stern at http://www.randystern.info/ or www.myspace.com/randystern. You can purchase a copy of Give at www.cdbaby.com/randystern.

Review: Brett Terry - Instant History

Brett Terry - Instant History
2008, Brett Terry

Today we have a treat for you. Some of you are familiar with Canadian alt-country legends Blue Rodeo, and all of you at least know who The Beatles are; well imagine the two bands played and wrote together. Somewhere in there you'd start to hear something like Mystic, Connecticut's Brett Terry. Terry's sophomore album, Instant History, is a hyper-enjoyable mix of Pop/Americana that will appeal to fans of The Beatles, Blue Rodeo, Wilco, The Skydiggers/Cash Brothers, and Ryan Adams (among others).

Instant History opens with Alexander Street, an Southern Rock styled anthem for a place where folks wait for the world to change without ever taking initiative. Unharmed has a wonderful lullaby quality to it, fleshed out with jangly guitar and some nice vocal harmony work. Rock Star is a bit of ironically inspired songwriting, painting the caricature that grew out of the lifestyle of 1960's and 1970's rock icons and persists even today. Sister is one of my favorite tracks on the CD, along with If I Needed Someone. Beatles fans will hear very familiar style harmonies on these two songs. The album closes out with Slow Moving Train, perhaps the most on-point performance on the disc.

Brett Terry has a familiar, comfortable style and sound that will appeal to fans of Americana, and enough Beatles influence to appeal to fans of that band as well. Terry is a niche sound, but in large enough niche to garner significant attention. There's a slightly primitive quality to the sound that is endearing, suggesting Terry is comfortable allowing the songs to be what they are rather than over-producing them into something else. Instant History is an honest and enjoyable work with strong songwriting and a solid performance.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Brett Terry at http://www.brettsongs.com/ or www.myspace.com/brettterrymusic. You can purchase a copy of Instant History at www.cdbaby.com/cd/brettterry2.

Review: Patrick Coman - Used Records

Patrick Coman – Used Records
2008, Patrick Coman

Patrick Coman is a singer/songwriter who draws comparisons to folks such as Neil Young, Gram Parsons and Ryan Adams. The Nashville native recently relocated to Berlin, Germany and released a 4-song EP entitled Used Records. Coman sings with a certain amount of soul and an imperfect voice (ala Neil Young), but hits all the right notes when it comes to touching the listener.

Coman opens with Streets Of Berlin, an ode to his new home that is both dark and hopeful in a wonderful acoustic guitar arrangement. Up next is Amsterdam, a heart-on-the-sleeve folk rocker featuring some excellent guitar work. Used Records is a song about the powerful connections we form with the music we love and the parallel between those connections and those we feel to people and places in our pasts. It’s an incredibly poignant song that’s a little off the beaten track philosophically but nonetheless based in truth. Maria is a stark commentary on the apathy of The Lost Generation (Well I’m walking down this low and lonesome street again / with the echoes of my parents’ revolution / between the bottles and the pills now there’s no need to get your thrills / from tearing down those old folks institutions).

Patrick Coman continues to build a following in Germany, where the hunger for protest music inspired by its 1960’s forebears is much stronger than here in the United States. Coman has a lot to say, and does so cogently in lovingly crafted arrangements that serve as perfect musical vehicles. Used Records is a strong release that deserves to be heard by many but probably doesn’t have a lot of commercial bite in the current music market. One might guess, however, that Coman is a pleasure to see live. I recommend Used Records highly as a disc worth checking out, but also recommend that if you happen to be near one of Coman’s gigs that you make the effort to get there.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Patrick Coman at www.myspace.com/patrickcoman or www.nimbitmusic.com/patrickcoman. You can purchase Used Records in digital format from Coman’s MySpace page as well as through iTunes and Rhapsody.

Review: Jaime Garamella - Upside Downer

Jaime Garamella – Upside Downer
2008, Dogburn Records

Jaime Garamella is a Brooklyn-transplanted singer/songwriter originally from Bston. Along with his band, The Spanish Channel, Garamella produced and recorded his debut CD in 2008, Upside Downer. Combining the quirky song craft of Elvis Costello and Ben Folds with the stylistic vigor of Ryan Adams or Fountains Of Wayne, Garamella dazzles with eight songs full of gorgeous melodies, arena rock style harmonies and memorable instrumental arrangements.

Upside Downer opens with The Wishing, a compact rocker than opens up with soaring harmonies and new wave keyboard accents. This song is radio ready today, and would get a lot of attention in the right market/demographic. Tiny Voices has some of the most striking harmonies on the CD, buoying a positive message with jangly guitars. It’s a very distinctive composition that could only come from Garamella. Upside Downer is a wonderful song that is probably 25 years too late for its maximum commercial potential. Delicious minor triads in the harmony make this one stick out in your head. Still a potential hit even today.

Me & You is a refreshing surprise amidst all of this great Rock N Roll. A bleakly beautiful song of love and sorrow, Me & You captures the angst of love lost more perfectly than any photograph ever could. The last track on the disc is of particular interest. A Weak Heart juxtaposes physical heart problems with the pain of a broken heart. The song is a bit of a downer and displays Garamella’s willingness to take chances musically. It is the primary reason why I am convinced we’ll still be talking about Jaime Garamella in ten or twenty years time. Other highlights include Devil’s Advocate, Odyssey and Pompeii.

Jaime Garamella writes pop gold in a musical age when such things are extremely undervalued. Garamella is the sort of artist who could make it in most any era of music because he has the ear necessary to breach the imaginary walls of musical culture and taste. Upside Downer is a brilliant album. Even if Garamella never records again, he’l be remembered for this album.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jaime Garamella at http://www.jamiegaramella.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/jamiegmusic. You can purchase a copy of Upside Downer at www.cdbaby.com/cd/jaimegaramella. Downloads are available through Digstation.

Review: Ryan Delmore - The Spirit, The Water And The Blood

Ryan Delmore - The Spirit, The Water and The Blood
2008, Varietal Records

Ryan Delmore has been a worship leader at the Five Cities Vineyard Church in Arroyo Grande for the past fifteen years. In that time he’s written scores of songs while leading worship in his church, and even managing to tour once in a while. Infusing country, folk, gospel, rock and soul with a Christian message, Delmore crafts a steely blend of religious Americana Delmore’s latest album; The Spirit, The Water and The Blood hints at influences as diverse as Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Tom Petty and The Staples Singers.

Ryan Delmore has either created one of the best gospel albums I've heard thus far in 2009 or one of the best Americana albums I've heard in 2009. It's hard to say which, because it's both. The Spirit, The Water and The Blood was born out of Delmore's love of God, but also pays direct homage to classic Americana sounds. Delmore's love of the sounds of artists such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Neil Young is evident and shines through clearly here. Delmore's love of God is equally evident, and I suspect that the religious community will embrace this album enthusiastically. Delmore is supported on the album by guitarist Marc Ford (The Black Crowes, Ben Harper) and his wife Kirsten Ford on backing vocals.

Delmore opens with Mercy, a pure singer-songwriter take on forgiveness and redemption. This is a classic country arrangement that may have commercial potential in secular markets as well. Sing Like Mary Sang plays more into the gospel realm, and Delmore's slightly gruff vocals are perfectly at home here. Provide For Me goes down the country path once again in a fairly straight up country/rocker. The guitar work here is amazing. Country fans will dig this song even if they don't buy into the lyrical content. Teach Me All Your Ways is a quiet ballad that is as much a prayer as it is a love song. Harmony vocals from Kirsten Ford enlighten this song with a sense of quiet beauty.

Sacred has a Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown sound that is both tired and inspired. The energy level on this one doesn't really match the lyrical content, but the arrangement is gorgeous. Jesus' Name is a classic country/pop tune that could garner significant play on pop/country radio. Other highlights are Nowhere To Be Seen, True Religion and Love Of God.

Ryan Delmore is the sort of artist who could bring Gospel music more fully into the popular realm. A great songwriting talent and a strong, soulful voice help Delmore make The Spirit, The Water and The Blood an eye-opening experience. Even if you're not into message you'll respect the music here. Ryan Delmore is a special talent.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Ryan Delmore at http://www.ryandelmore.com/. You can purchase a copy of The Spirit, The Water And The Blood at Vineyard Music.