The Calendar Album
Self-Released, 2021
9/10
A veteran songwriter and musician based in Brevard, North Carolina, Dave Desmelik wrote a song for every month of the year for the appropriately titled The Calendar Album, where he handles the bulk of the instrumentation and all the singing across the well thought out originals.
Naturally, the album leads with “January”, where Desmelik’s soaring pipes align with bluesy guitars and playful drumming, and “February” follows with an adventurous form of folk-rock that’s raw and full of timeless energy.
Elsewhere, “April” is packed with beauty as an Americana spirit flows with strategic tambourine and harmonica, while “May” recruits some bluegrass nods with banjo acrobatics complementing Desmelik’s expressive singing. “July”, an exceptionally noteworthy track, then brings some country appeal in a very introspective climate that’s both stirring and warm.
Deeper yet, “September” utilizes acoustic guitar and piano with Desmelik’s emotive singing in a bare setting of beautiful melancholy, and “December” exits the listen with an eloquent and memorable display of singer-songwriter prowess, where David Phillips adds electric guitar to the poetic finish.
This is Desmelik’s 15 album, and it’s a very cozy and easily relatable effort that anyone with an interest for alt-country, Americana and folk music will have no problem enjoying and revisiting often.
Travels well with: Various Artists- The Next Waltz: Volume Three; Sadler Vaden- Anybody Out There?