Everybody’s Laughing
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
Listen to Everybody’s Laughing
The Toledo native Ben Stalets thankfully doesn’t hide his influences from legends like John Prine, Warren Zevon and Paul Simon on this nostalgic listen, where the troubadour pens both personal and worldly songs that also explore sorrow and joy with a very articulate approach.
“Maybe Love’s Not All We Need” starts the listen with mysterious ambience as Stalets’ expressive pipes enter the heartfelt and cosmic version of Americana, and “Chicken Flew The Coop” follows with strategic pedal steel alongside a very warm, rootsy appeal.
Elsewhere, “Rock & Roll Song” offers an initially bare, poetic display of folk influenced song craft that’s quite intimate, while “No Right Way” recruits playful drumming into the cultured and rhythmic album highlight. “Words”, another exceptional track, then gets a bit more rugged as Stalets enters more firm areas of rock with a minor buzzing.
“Mr. Nice Guy” arrives near the end and showcases shades of retro-rock amid the falsetto singing, and the title track exits the listen with a slight jangle that brings to the mind the ‘60s alongside the crisp drumming and spirited guitar work.
Somewhere between country, folk, Americana and roots, Stalets embraces both tenderness and grit, and his curious brand of music would have sounded as great in the ‘60s as it does today, and will appeal to fans as wide as The Beatles, Wilco or even Prince.
Travels well with: Grace Morrison- Daughter; DL Rossi- Lonesome Kind