JD Pederson – It Seems Like Only Yesterday

JD Pederson – It Seems Like Only Yesterday
2010, JD Pederson

Every singer/songwriter is a sum of his or her influences.  For JD Pederson those influences are solid ones.  Whether it’s the San Francisco sound of Boz Scaggs and Tower Of Power, or the style of artists such as The Eagles, Jackson Browne and Van Morrison, Pederson has developed a strong personal style based in classic sounds.  What makes Pederson special is that he’s taken these roots and catalyzed them into something new and unpredictable.  It’s there in Pederson’s live shows; you never know what he might come up with next.    You’ll find the same feel to Pederson’s debut album, It Seems Like Only Yesterday.

Pederson opens with “We Go Way Back”, inhabiting the space between country and rock n roll with an easy-listening mien.  It’s a song of reminiscence with a nice melody, and shows off Pederson’s easy-going voice in style.  “My Favorite Sunset” is a vaguely saccharine ballad that captures a moment in song.  Pederson injects an island feel into the song, and in spite of the slightly trite feel you’ll leave with the impression that such things are born of true emotion rather than a cynical attempt to inspire feeling.  “Learn The Dance” is all about growing up and taking responsibility for yourself.  Pederson exhorts listeners to dig into life and take what it has to offer; an anthem to personal responsibility with a dose of carpe diem thrown in.

“Call Me” finds Pederson sounding a lot like Ezra Idlet of Trout Fishing In America.  It’s a down tempo love ballad that’s sorrowful, yet still somehow motivated by hope.  “Kiss & Tell” shows more energy; a catchy tune with a sense of mystery and remorse.  This is a sharp, clean arrangement with great guitar work that shows a slightly different dimension to Pederson’s songwriting.  “Welcome To The Party” is a musical dissertation on graft, politics, and the internal machinery that keeps the political process out of the hands of the people it represents.  The observational style of songwriting shown here displays sharp and incisive lyrics with plenty of wit in a funky, blues-rock arrangement.  “No Good For You” is a dirty blend of rock and blues that’s highly enjoyable.  It’s a classic story in the first person about a friend waiting in the wings for his friend’s girlfriend to her eyes his way.  More than that, he’s actively working to put himself into position to steal her away.  The guitar work here is as filthy-good as the premise, and the song is full of delicious piano licks and fills.

“Peace Of Mind” is a bit simplistic and plain, but features some great guitar work and a decent melody.  The sound here is a bit too inside of itself; wanting to explode and be larger than life, but never quite gets there.  “The Sound Of Goodbye” is a flat, Adult/Contemporary Ballad.  The song itself is decent, but the production here misses the boat.  The vocals are too low, the piano too high, and the guitar solo is too far out in front.  This sounds more like a patchwork of musical parts thrown together in a slipshod manner than a cohesive piece of songwriting.  Pederson closes with “Headed Home”, once again involving a mismatch in the production booth.  Pederson’s pleasant but soft-spoken voice gets lost in the mix. 

JD Pederson’s It Seems Like Only Yesterday lives up to the classic singer/songwriter mantle it bears across the first seven songs.  Pederson shows a competency in lyrics and arranging that places him above the pack.  His gift for melody and creating a story environment in his songs is notable, and at times he rises to the crest of brilliance.  The last three tracks seem more like filler, and are a disappointing epilogue to what is otherwise a very strong effort.  It Seems Like Only Yesterday certainly will give listeners motivation to see what JD Pederson does next.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about J.D. Pederson at http://www.jdpederson.com/.  It Seems Like Only Yesterday is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available from iTunes.

Review: Assembly Of Dust - Some Assembly Required

Assembly Of Dust - Some Assembly Required
2009, Rock Ridge Music

Assembly Of Dust has gained a moderate amount of commercial success over nearly a decade together, but has quietly become one of the most respected bands in music circles. Primary songwriter, singer and guitarist Reid Genauer has a lyrical bearing that falls somewhere between Bob Dylan and Martin Sexton; the gritty everyman with a lyric voice reminiscent of a cross between Neil Young and Glenn Frey. Adam Terrell (guitar, vox), Andy Herrick (drums) and John Leccese (bass, vox) support the writing process by not only providing stellar backdrops for Genauer's songs but also help to shape and caress the songs into life. On July 21, 2009, Assembly Of Dust returns with what might be their most focused and compelling album to date in Some Assembly Required. This time around Assembly Of Dust brings some close friends and even some of their idols along for the ride, as no less than thirteen guest musicians can be found on the CD. Richie Havens, Keller Williams, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, Grace Potter, Martin Sexton and Mike Gordon are among the luminaries pitching in, but don't think this is a gimmick to draw in listeners. If anything, it's a testament to the type of music Assembly Of Dust has made all along that so many fine musicians want to participate in Some Assembly Required.

Some Assembly Required opens with All That I Am Now, a vocal duet between Reid Genauer and Richie Havens. All That I Am Now is a song of resignation; an acknowledgement of the burdens of time and experience and what they can do to us. The song is resigned but also self-confident, and the arrangement runs a wonderful line between Rock and Country that we'll call Americana for lack of a better term. Buffalo Killers Zach & Seth Gabbard help out on vocals for Pedal Down, a deliciously Eagles-esque California Country rocker. David Grisman sits in on mandolin for Cold Coffee, a classic sounding tune with harmonies reminiscent of CSNY. This is a great bit of songwriting; highly intelligent yet charmingly colloquial. Phish's Mike Gordon sits in on bass and background vocals for Arc Of The Sun. The melody here is highly memorable and lyric, providing one of the most enjoyable listens on the disc. Second Song is built around a vibrant riff from guest Keller Williams. If any song from the disc ends up in a movie or television show it will be this one. The pacing and melody are perfect for the big or small screen and the arrangement is highly accessible across genres.

Light Blue Lover is an interesting song about letting go, including an unfortunately brief cameo by the exquisite Grace Potter. My favorite song on Some Assembly Required is Edges, featuring Bela Fleck on banjo. There's a sort of synergy that happens between Assembly of Dust and Fleck that's magical enough to shine through the highly produced format that is a CD. Be sure to check out Revelry, with Martin Sexton on "electric vocals". Revelry walks the fine line between folk and blues, resulting in an intriguing acoustic arrangement. Assembly Of Dust pulls back for Straight, the only song on the album that doesn't feature a guest. There's a bit of classic country in this melancholic ballad with a melody that washes over you like a gently rising tide. moe's Al Schier brings a little bit of crunch to High Brow on guitar before Assembly Of Dust closes out with You Lay The Dust (Jeff Pevar guests). Also make sure to check out John Scofield's guitar work on Borrowed Feet.

Assembly Of Dust is respected for a reason. There's not much flashy here, but Some Assembly Required is some of the finest roots songwriting of the year thus far. In spite of the numerous guests, Some Assembly Required retains an essential character that wholly belongs to Assembly Of Dust. Make sure Some Assembly Required makes it onto your "to-do" list. You won't regret it.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Assembly Of Dust at http://www.aodust.com/ or www.myspace.com/assemblyofdust. Some Assembly Required hits store shelves on July 21, 2009. You can pre-order your copy from Amazon.com. Expect Some Assembly Required to be widely available for digital outlets as well.