Canyons Of My Mind
New West, 2017
9/10
The 3rd album from Andrew Combs, and his first on the New West label, the Dallas native and now Nashville resident brings in a wealth of talent and plenty of help across these 11 versatile and thoughtful tracks.
“Heart Of Wonder” starts the listen with Combs’ heartfelt vocals alongside warm guitar as the tune builds into a busy display of brass and orchestral ideas, and “Sleepwalker” follows with a calmer approach of keys and gentle percussion as Combs displays a smooth, timeless climate.
Near the middle, “Rose Colored Blues” radiates much beauty amid a folk template that embraces pedal steel, while “Better Way” finds its way into lush and soulful territory with a soothing, dreamy delivery. “Lauralee”, one of the album’s best, then enters piano balladry as Combs illustrates an expressive quality to his poetic song craft.
Deeper yet, “Bourgeois King” showcases incredible dynamics among the many musicians in some hybrid of jazz, rock and folk ideas, and “What It Means To You” brings Caitlin Rose’s sublime pipes to the country spirited exit.
Often indebted to ‘70s singer-songwriters, Combs is breeding his own brand of Americana, and it sure is easy to enjoy. A very adventurous record, In 2019 he released Ideal Man, which solidified him as one of the most interesting artists on the New West roster.
Travels well with: Pieta Brown- Freeway; Kacy & Clayton- Carrying On