Kane Kalas

High Hopes

CenterPoint, 2023

8/10

Listen to High Hopes

An artist who is classically trained, Kane Kalas is quite familiar with the Golden Age of music, and he adds a modern twist on 18 tunes of American standards here, and is backed by some excellent musicians and an orchestra.

The always relevant “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” begins the listen with Kalas’ diverse pipes alongside Tony Nalker’s warm piano and Lou Brody’s distinct voice as well, and “All Of Me” follows with bright brass from Jay Davidson’s tenor sax, plus many others, for the emotive and animated jazz climate.

Deeper into the listen, “On My Way To Cape May” welcomes Rachel Brennan’s pretty pipes that complement Kalas’ expressive singing in the melodic landscape, while “Guys And Dolls” enlists Joe Conklin’s vocal solo that helps cultivate a playful, collaborative album highlight.

Further still, the calm grooves of “If Ever I Would Leave You” welcomes a guitar solo from Matt Davis for the romantic spirit, and “Goodnight My Someone” exits with Kalas’ impressive range amid Jackie Warren’s sublime keys.

Kalas might best be known as one of the highest paid poker players in the world, but this universally embraceable debut certainly has him throwing his hat in the ring as a top crooner, too.

Travels well with: Jon Menges- Spirit Of 3, Spirit Of 4; Jeremy Green- Standing Eight

The International Treasures

Together, We Are The International Treasures

Supper Club, 2023

9/10

Listen to Together, We Are The International Treasures

The duo of Doyle Turner and Ted Hajnasiewicz, as The International Treasures they pen songs with bright storytelling and glowing harmonies that touch on the human condition in timeless, memorable ways.

“Egg Suckin’ Dog” opens the listen with a quick meshing of warbly voices and a dreamy, mountain-esque setting that benefits from Chris Holm’s spirited harmonica, and “Wind Dying Down” follows with Brent Fuqua’s glowing mandolin amid the pretty singing that touches on charming folk qualities.

At the midpoint, “Anywhere With You” showcases Dean Severson’s aching pedal steel alongside the poetic singing, while “Gimme Some More” is a bit more rugged via the firm acoustic guitars and a fluid folk-rock template.

The listen exits with “Carry Me Home” and “Leave A Little Love”, where the former uses Mikkell Johnson’s skilled banjo perfectly, and the latter is quite intimate, as the stirring fiddle suits the vulnerable singing splendidly.

The duo have impressive solo careers of their own, and together their collective strength, along with the esteemed players, makes for a rootsy, Americana and folk presence we won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: The Jorgensens- Americana Soul; The Scarlet Goodbye- Hope’s Eternal

The Bablers

You Are The One For Me/Mr. King/Holding Me Tight Tonight

Big Stir, 2023

9/10

Listen to You Are The One For Me

The Finnish pop wizards The Bablers have been on a singles tear lately, where the frontman Arto Tamminen, Janne Haavisto (drums, vocals), Pekka Gröhn (bass, keyboards, vocals), and Hannu Pikkarainen (guitar, vocals) continue to prove just why they’ve been considered one of the best in the area of power-pop since the late ‘70s/ early ‘80s.

“You Are The One For Me” makes for a very harmonic and swirling display of power-pop meets garage-rock, where Tamminen’s smooth pipes are complemented by the dynamic rhythm section of Gröhn and Haavisto.

“Holding Me Tight Tonight” is a bit calmer, but not without plenty of hooks, as the quartet make for a heartfelt, country-rock influenced demeanor.

“Mr. King” lands in piano balladry, where strong attention to mood and emotion welcomes a warm guitar solo from Tamminen amid the lush textures.

The Bablers released Psychadilly Circus in 2021, their first record since 1998, to worldwide appreciation, and let’s hope that these stand alone tracks are a hint at another new LP, cause they are certainly still the kings of 100% organic pop music.

Travels well with: The Flashcubes- Pop Masters; Popsicko- Off To A Bad Start

Roxx Revolt And The Velvets

Turn Your Head This Way

SSK, 2023

8/10

Listen to Turn Your Head This Way

The debut album from the Florida outfit of Roxx Revolt (vocals, guitars), Dan Heath (bass), Jake Shockley (guitar), and Chris Campo (drums), this powerful and diverse version of rock proves that the band are ready for arenas.

“Coming Down” begins the listen with tense and booming, fuzzed out rock that brings sturdy riffs and Revolt’s calm versus loud vocals, and “King Revolt” follow with Campo’s thumping drums amid a bit of a haunting quality that builds into an anthemic rocker.

Further on, “Birdie Like Woman” is dance floor friendly with plenty of melody populating the retro landscape, while “Run For Cover”, the album’s best, emits plenty of grit and harmonic moments that are both soulful and charged.

Moving close to the end, “Mosquito Song” contains some punk flavor with dense, grungey bouts, and “Second Thoughts” exits with some scrappy garage rock flavor alongside the strategic backing vocals that are quite soothing.

A listen that balances power pop, blues sensibilities, Western twang and punk, Revolt And The Velvets will likely be selling out stadiums in the future with their giant and charged rock sensibilities.

Travels well with: Mike Zito- Blues For The Southside; Vixen77- Easy Access

The Sweet Lillies

Equality

Americana Vibes, 2023

9/10

Listen to Equality

The Colorado residents The Sweet Lillies bring their string prowess to these 12 Americana tunes that surround self-exploration, social justice and evolution.

“Spent” opens the listen with Julie Gussaroff’s talking and singing alongside fluid drumming and warm melodies, and “We Are Beautiful” follows with the playful and upbeat instrumentation that benefits much from guitarist Dustin Rohleder’s unpredictable playing.

In the middle, “Clear Water” emits swirling banjo and very expressive singing that makes for some time honored blue grass nods, while “Candles” places Rohleder on vocals for the flowing and intimate song craft that makes great use of Jason Hann’s skilled drumming.

Near to the end, the swift vocal acrobatics of “Words” is populated by lively bass plucking and charming vocal harmonies, and “In My Dreams” exits with mesmerizing interaction between the strings, drums and bright singing of the groove filled finish.

In addition to the above, keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth and violist Becca Bisque both make exceptional contributions to a unique, uplifting and very important body of work from yet another top notch Americana outfit from Colorado, and this one even carries hip-hop influences.

Travels well with: Damn Tall Buildings- Sleeping Dogs; Old Salt Union- Where The Dogs Don’t Bite

Chris Church

Radio Transient

Big Stir, 2023

10/10

Listen to Radio Transient

The always unpredictable North Carolina artist Chris Church returns with his most direct pop record yet, where he plays most instruments, welcomes a few friends to help out, and is never short on melodies.

After the mysterious synth ambience that segues into the dreamy yet busy ‘80s New Wave nods of “GORT”, “Going ‘Til We Go” finds a very pretty place to reside with harmonic singing amid the swirling guitar and animated drums of Nick Bertling.

Further along, Bill Lloyd’s guitar solo on “One More Chance To Get Over You” carries plenty of nostalgic melodica that’s fueled by the heartfelt song craft, while the soulful, crisp textures of “Already In It” benefit much from strategic bass lines alongside Church’s expressive singing.

“Far Too Late” and “Flip” exit the listen, where the former uses Lindsay Murray’s welcoming backing vocals in the cautious landscape, and the latter focuses on ambience that shifts into a shimmering version of soaring pop-rock that populated the best of the ‘80s music.

A varied listen that’s sometimes sweet, sometimes tense, and entirely quirky and glossy, but never in an overproduced sort of fashion, the back cover photo certainly gives us some idea of Church’s influences, and I feel that Lloyd Dobler would appreciate this record as much as I do.

Travels well with: The Flash Cubes- Pop Masters; Steve Stoeckel- The Power Of And

Leroy From The North

Toughen Up

From The North, 2023

8/10

Listen to Toughen Up

This debut album from Leroy From The North, which is spearheaded by the multi-instrumentalist and singer Eli Wulfmeier, blends Americana and country-rock with an often ‘70s appeal that’s never short on grit and grooves.

“Youngblood” begins the listen with dense, southern rock ideas, as Wulfmeier’s expressive pipes benefit from the thumping drums and soulful backing vocals, and “Homemade Crosses” follows with swirling guitar and a light buzzing, where retro ideas flirt with alt-country, too.

“Push” and “Top Ten” land in the middle, where the former is a more intimate moment of rugged yet tuneful ideas that builds into an emotive rocker, while the latter embraces classic rock nods that emit much detail from Adam Arcos’ fluid bass lines.

Approaching the end, “Pawn Shop” is full of vivid storytelling that accompanies the spirited Americana, and “Hard To Last” exits with a dreamy ambience of beauty and poeticism.

Wulfmeier and company tip their hat towards names like Brent Cobb, Sturgil Simpson, and Whiskey Meyers, and additional help from Matt Tecu and Jason Ganberg on drums and percussion sure does make for an excellent starting point.

Travels well with: Geanies- Can’t See The Sun; Eric Johanson- The Deep And The Dirty

Rival Sons

Darkfighter

Low Country Sound/Atlantic Records, 2023

10/10

Listen to Darkfighter

The Grammy Nominated rockers Rival Sons return with their 8th album, where their most collaborative venture yet continues their bluesy fueled hard-rock formula.

“Mirrors” gets the listen off to an atmospheric start, where warm keys lead into powerful and crisp, fuzzed out blues rock, and “Nobody Wants To Die” follows with a thumping and furious blast of pounding, arena ready rock.

The middle spot belongs to “Bright Light”, where lush textures of grace and melody make for a gritty, intimate presence, while “Rapture” showcases sturdy riffage amid the dynamic rhythm section that welcomes some of the most expressive singing.

Close to the end, “Horses Breath” recruits a mysterious ambience that segues into soulful, fuzzed out retro-ideas, and “Darkside” exits with a blistering delivery of dense and hard hitting bouts that also emits bare singing.

Undoubtedly one of the finest outfits in today’s version of blues-rock, whether you’ve been listening all along or this is your first taste of Rival Sons, you’re going to be impressed.

Travels well with: Greta Van Fleet- Anthem Of The Peaceful Army; The Cold Stares- Voices

Sandy Bailey

Daughter Of Abraham

Red Parlor, 2023

8/10

Listen to Daughter Of Abraham

The vocalist, piano player, keyboardist and ukulele wizard Sandy Bailey welcomes plenty of excellent players to this diverse and eloquent songwriting.

The playful organ of “I Ain’t Your Honey” starts the listen with Bailey’s soulful voice amid Monte Arnstam’s fluid drumming, and “Already Down” follows with a stirring intimacy that uses the gorgeous singing alongside the powerful and poetic song craft.

Further on, “Bottles Of Emptiness” benefits much from Darby Wolf’s dreamy piano and Bailey’s pretty, expressive pipes, while “Time’s Gonna Come” is populated by Gray Maynard’s double bass and Nate Thorn’s electric guitar for the atmospheric album highlight.

Approaching the end, Jim Bailey’s gorgeous harmonica and Ryan Hommel’s aching pedal steel help cultivate a roosty landscape across “Dear John”, and “Got Nobody” exits with a hint of gospel flowing in the stunning and heartfelt closer.

A body of work from an artist whose creativity is rooted in being biracial, a single mother and an active rock and roller, you might be reminded of Norah Jones or Susan Tedeschi when listening to these 10 well thought out pieces, and I don’t think anyone is going to have a problem with that.

Travels well with: Alexander Wren- To Whom It May Concern; Alice Howe- Circumstance

Jalen Baker

Be Still

Cellar, 2023

8/10

Listen to Be Still

The esteemed vibraphonist Jalen Baker is aligned with Paul Cornish, Gabriel Godoy and Gavin Moolchan for these 8 contemplative tracks that rarely stay in one place for long and are quite memorable.

“Twas” opens the listen with Baker’s bright vibes alongside Moolchan’s fluid and frisky drums that makes for a lively climate, and “Be Still” follows with an animated approach that benefits from Cornish’s skilled keys and no lack of melody.

“Herzog” occupies the middle spot and uses Godoy’s bass playing wisely amid the dreamy vibes, while “Jinirikisha” makes for an introspective album highlight that spotlights the dynamic rhythm section.

“The Light” and “Body And Soul” exit the listen, where the former is an intimate and stylish moment, and the latter continues that cautiousness via the radiating warmth.

Baker was picking up momentum with his solo career when the pandemic struck, but his time back in his hometown when the world shut down gave him a new sense of purpose, and the resulting balance with regard to his career is allowing him to make some of his best music yet.

Travels well with: Kirk Lightsey- Live At Smalls Jazz Club; Dave Liebman- Live At Smalls

Sammy Figueroa

Searching For A Memory

Ashé, 2023

8/10

Listen to Searching For A Memory

The Grammy nominated percussionist Sammy Figueroa brings along Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Aymée Nuviola, plus special guests, for these songs dedicated to his father, Charlie Figueroa, the ‘50s romantic singer.

“Como Arrullo De Palmas” opens the listen with Nuviola’s expressive voice and Miguel Zenon’s lively sax making for plenty of cultured melodies, and “Tú Serás Mia” follows with John Daversa’s bright trumpet amid Ludwig Afonso’s animated drumming for the very playful landscape.

Further along, “Busco Tu Recuerdo” spotlights Ricardo Rodriguez’s skilled bass that complements Figueroa’s soaring pipes, while “Culpa Al Destino” places Felipe LaMoglia on tenor sax and Francisco Dimas on trumpet for the timeless, frisky jazz appeal.

The last 2 tracks don’t disappoint either, where “El Ultimo Suspiro” allows Nuviola’s sublime voice to shine amid Figueroa’s inviting percussion, and “No Llores Mas” exits with a raw original recording of Charlie’s work.

Figueroa turns his father’s romantic boleros into modern Latin jazz tunes that embrace son, plena/bomba, samba, cha-cha and good old fashioned jazz, and it’s a great gesture towards a life cut short too soon.

Travels well with: Doug Beavers- Luna; The Rodriguez Brothers- Reunited Live At Dizzy’s Club

Marina Rocks

Texcentric

Two Fisted Pixie, 2023

8/10

Listen to Texcentric

The long running guitarist Marina Rocks pays homage to her birthplace with these 4 covers and 2 originals that welcome Alex Rodriguez, Aden Bubeck, Lloyd Maines and Pat Manske.

“Drummin’ Down” opens the listen with Rocks’ distinct voice alongside warm guitar and Rodriguez’s playful bass in the upbeat, rootsy appeal, and “Willie Hole” follows with Maines handling dobro for the rich textures of the unique folk-rock.

Halfway through, “Walking On Water”, a R.W. Boyd tune, benefits from Manske’s skilled drumming amid the cautious, poetic landscape, while “Nameless” is full of spirited guitar and dusty melodies that showcase Rocks’ impressive range. The other cover, Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You”, arrives near the end, and is full of lush and expressive textures.

Rocks handles vocals, Godin guitar, Fender Strat, drums and keyboards, and together with the excellent musicians at her side, she pens a powerful, diverse and sometimes anthemic quick listen.

Travels well with: Marina Rocks- Austin To Houston; David Newbould- Sin & Redemption

The Hot Toddies Jazz Band

The Hot Toddies Jazz Band

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to The Hot Toddies Jazz Band

The debut album from one of New York City’s most exciting jazz and swing outfits, these 11 songs from The Hot Toddies Jazz Band surround the sounds of the Prohibition Era, and point towards influences like Duke Ellington, Billy Holiday and Count Basie.

“Digga Digga Do” opens the listen with Queen Esther’s soulful, powerful pipes alongside Jon Seiger’s bright trumpet for the dance floor ready fun, and “Love Me Or Leave Me” follows with Hannah Gill’s pretty voice amid Ron Wilkins’ animated trombone that helps cultivate plenty of retro melody.

In the middle, “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You” flows with Dan Levinson’s skilled reeds that complement Ian Hutchison’s playfully plucked bass, while the lively “Saint Louis Blues” places Justin Poindexter on lead vocals alongside Wallace Stelzer’s strategic bass for the bluesy nods.

Approaching the end, “When I Get Low I Get High” brings back Gill’s diverse voice that suits Patrick Soluri’s frisky drums for the stylish album highlight, and “I’m In The Mood For Love” exits with sublime intimacy thanks to Esther’s eloquent singing and Poindexter’s tremolo guitar prowess.

An album that took 4 years to make, it’s quite evident that a lot of work went into these songs, and it sure does make for an uplifting and nostalgic listen.

Travels well with: Danny Fox Trio- Time Took Care Of It; Color As Time- Soma Schema

Quynh Nguyen

The Flower Of France

Music & Arts, 2023

8/10

Listen to The Flower Of France

The Vietnamese pianist Quynh Nguyen pays homage to Germaine Tailleferre, where these pieces originally for solo piano unfold with excerpts from her ballets and film scores, including some rarely heard pieces.

“Impromptu” opens the listen with the waves of beauty from the keys emanating much fluidity, and “Romance” follows with a very heartfelt demeanor of emotion flowing from the progressions.

Further on, “Fleurs de France” emits 8 chapters of soft versus firm dynamics from the vivid finger acrobatics, while “Larghetto” displays a stirring intimacy thanks to the precise tone of the poetic piano.

Approaching the end, “Barbizon” illustrates both restraint and adventurousness from the agile keys, and “Singeries” exits with upbeat and frisky patterns of timeless, attentive song craft.

An artist with a very natural approach to melodic gestures, Nguyen plays with a vision that far exceeds her years, and these pieces illustrate an enormous talent that deserves all the praise thrown her way.

Travels well with: JoAnn Falletta- Elfman-Hailstork Concertos; Orion Weiss- Arc II: Ravel, Brahms, Shostakovich

The Rodriguez Brothers

Reunited Live At Dizzy’s Club

RodBros, 2023

8/10

Listen to Reunited Live At Dizzy’s Club

To celebrate the 20 years that have passed since Rob and Mike Rodriguez recorded their debut, this new album recorded live at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in November 2022 brings us 7 originals of their worldly flavor.

“Gitmo’s Groove” starts the listen with Robert’s playful keys and Adam Cruz’s fluent drumming illuminating the many grooves, and “Guayaquil” follows with Ricky Rodriquez’s skilled bass matching Mike’s soulful and engaging trumpet playing.

Further along, “Descargation” is quite animated and showcases Anthony Almonte’s lively percussion with plenty of Latin nods, while “Love Samba” is indeed romantic and embraces traditional jazz bouts via the intricate rhythm section and luminous horn. The final track, “Minor Things”, then recruits globally adventurous rhythm and dynamic interaction between the quintet for an exit you can’t help but admire.

A set that doesn’t shy away from Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and Latin folkloric moments, the brothers pack much spirit, soul and intelligence into the listen.

Travels well with: Doug Beavers- Luna; Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra- Kemet (The Black Land)

Joe Hisaishi

A Symphonic Celebration

Deutsche Grammophon, 2023

8/10

Listen to A Symphonic Celebration

The legendary Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi creates symphonic arrangements of his original soundtracks for such Ghibli classics as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro, and he welcomes Grace Davidson, Avi Avital, Bach Choir and Stephen Morris, plus the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind” opens the listen with much attention to atmosphere, where the gentle keys are met with booming moments from the orchestra, and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” follows with a distinct dreaminess that allows the winds to flow with much beauty and grace.

At the halfway point, “Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea” showcases the harmonic voices amid bright string interaction, while “Castle In The Sky” soars with rich textures that welcome many voices and well timed brass.

Close to the end, the powerful and colorful “Spirited Away” is the best selection due to its glorious nature, poetic singing and meticulous keys, and “My Neighbor Totoro” exits with a twinkling approach that builds into a vibrant and layered finish.

Hisaishi’s accolades and impact is truly unparalleled, and his name truly belongs in the same category as Philip Glass and Terry Riley, as evidenced by this excellent body of work.

Travels well with: Yuja Wang- The American Project; Víkingur Ólafsson- From Afar

McKenzie Stubbert

Waiting Room

Curious Music, 2023

9/10

Listen to Waiting Room

A Los Angeles resident who is well versed in neo-classical ideas, McKenzie Stubbert references film scores, neoclassical piano, and minimalist composers of the late twentieth century for these 10 well thought out tracks.

“Never I Know” starts the listen with warm piano that’s as agile as it is heartfelt in his emotional presence, and “Ventomine” follows with Tim Fain’s stirring violin that adds much beauty to the rich duet.

In the middle, “Err” emits a stirring dreaminess that’s focused much on mood thanks to Josh Plotner’s skilled clarinet and bass clarinet, while “Respair” benefits much from Kaileen King’s violin, Miribai Peart’s viola and Anna Fritz’s cello for the lush textures of orchestral and eloquent beauty.

Close to the end, “Falling Pt. III” offers a quick glimpse into Stubbert’s versatile key manipulation that draws us in immediately, and “Further” exits with swirling melodies radiating from the meticulous piano playing that you can’t help but admire.

Stubbert has done much work in the area of film and TV, and this personal body of work explores the idea of existing and surviving as an artist in a complicated world. In addition to piano, he offers organ and programming for the absorbing journey.

Travels well with: Bastien Keb- Organ Recital; Deru- We Will Live On

The Flashcubes

Pop Masters

Big Stir, 2023

10/10

Listen to Pop Masters

The Syracuse, New York power-pop legends The Flashcubes return with their original 1977 line up, where 8 of their recent singles and 4 new tracks welcome plenty of guests from the guitar-pop underground.

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” gets the listen off to an energetic start, where Tommy Allen’s crisp and animated drumming welcomes the expressive vocals of Mimi Betinis, of Pezband, who originally recorded the tune, and “Get Up And Go” follows with Dave Paton of Pilot, who lends his smooth pipes to the jangly rocker.

Elsewhere, “Tomorrow Night”, by Shoes, is populated by Jeff and John Murphy and Gary Kiebe- all from Shoes- for the soulful and dreamy retro rocker, while “Have You Ever Been Torn Apart?”, a Spongetunes interpretation, enlists Jamie Hoover, Pat Walters and Steve Stoechel to flesh out the highly melodic and instant sing-along friendly environment.

Some of the best tracks reside close to the end, where Chris Stamey’s “The Summer Sun” places Arty Lenin on lead vocals to complement the indeed summery harmonies, and “Flavor Of The Month”, by The Posies, benefits from Gary Frenay’s powerful bass and swirling guitars from Paul Armstrong and Lenin.

A band who turned plenty of heads during their first stint from 1977-1980, The Flashcubes got back together in the ‘90s, and have retained their robust and poppy formula since. Put this album on at your next party and prepare for plenty of praise for how great it is, cause these hooks come in spades.

Travels well with: Steve Stoeckel- The Power Of And; Popsicko- Off To A Bad Start

Francois Bourassa Quartet

Swirl: Live At Piccolo

Effendi, 2023

8/10

Listen to Swirl: Live At Piccolo

The exceptional pianist Francois Bourassa has an impressive 11 albums to his credit, and this new live quartet listen brings André Leroux, Guy Boisvert and Guillaume Pilote to the 6 energetic and spontaneous tracks.

“Pooloop” gets the listen off to a lively start, where Pilote’s playful drumming and Bourassa’s warm keys meet at a very frisky intersection, and “Prologue” follows with Leroux’s atmospheric flute making for a very unique dreaminess that unfolds across 12+ minutes of rich textures.

The middle tracks belong to “Room 58” and “Costard”, where the former offers dizzying keys amid soulful sax from Leroux, while the latter uses distinctly plucked bass from Boisvert for the cinematic climate. The final track, “15, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette”, then emits intimate keys, meticulous bass, flowing brass and crisp drumming for a very striking and diverse exit of calm versus busy dynamics.

An affair of all originals, each player brings an intense appreciation of jazz to the exciting and inimitable journey that’s artistic and engaging.

Travels well with: Will Boness- Is This A Dream?; James McGowan Ensemble- Reaching In

John Calvin Abney

Safe Passage

Black Mesa, 2019

9/10

Listen to Safe Passage

A longtime musician who has provided invaluable support for artists like John Moreland, Samantha Crain and Lee Bains III + The Glory Files, John Calvin Abney has also dabbled in film scoring, too. With Safe Passage, his 4th solo album, Abney delivers a listen based on observations set to his eclectic and easily embraceable sounds.

“I Just Want To Feel Good” gets the album started with quick finger pickin’ in the dreamy folk tune, and “Kind Days” follows with female harmony vocals on the cautious, warm setting that touches on ‘60s beach sounds.

Further on, “When The Dark Winds Blow” recruits harmonicas on the flowing Americana highlight, while “Honest Liar” offers a slow burning affair with much depth and grace.

Near the end, “Typeface In Bold” has Abney and company tapping into their soulful side with sparse beauty, and “Maybe Happy” exits the listen with plenty of melody and nature in the synth friendly conclusion.

if you’re like me, you hadn’t heard of Abney before this, but you certainly won’t forget him after hearing Safe Passage, as the troubadour takes pieces of the bands he’s play with and melds a unique formula that’s touching, forthright and immediately memorable.

Travels well with: Austin Lucas- Stay Reckless; Jared Deck- Jared Deck