Freer Street
Farm To Label, 2023
8/10
The Minneapolis resident Tony Cuchetti brings us both originals and covers on this sophomore studio album, where a live-in-the-studio approach and minimal overdubs lends itself to a very spontaneous and vivid listen.
“The After” opens the listen with warm guitar and Cuchetti’s soulful pipes making for a very mature and poetic landscape that recruits Gregg Inhofer’s glowing organ, and “Convince My Heart” follows with a thicker presence of rugged roots rock ideas that uses JT Bates’ drumming playfully.
“Stubborn Bones” occupies the middle spot and benefits much from Nick Salisbury’s cozy bass for the sublime intimacy, while the thumping “Heartbreak Town” is populated by Blair Krivanek’s sturdy rhythm guitar amid the darker storytelling.
Close to the end, “Hey Brother” has the Hammond B3, light guitars and Cuchetti’s powerful voice making for a reflective and gripping album highlight, and “Time Moves On” exits with a punchy and animated bar rocker that will be forever timeless.
The songs here are penned from the perspective of being a father, a family member, songwriter and performer, as Cuchetti’s eclectic vision draws comparisons to Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt, and come straight from the heart and with plenty of soul, too.
Travels well with: Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends- Just Fade Away; Steve Almaas- Everywhere You’ve Been