The Liar
Thirty Tigers, 2022
10/10
After an 8 year hiatus, the acclaimed singer-songwriter John Fullbright returns with a collaborative effort that includes the Oklahoma musicians Paddy Ryan, Stephen Lee, Paul Wilkes, Aaron Boehler and Jesse Aycock.
“Bearden 1645” opens the listen with graceful and fluid piano, as Fullbright’s slightly gritty vocals guide the flowing climate that welcomes pedal steel and drums as it builds into a rich rocker, and “Paranoid Heart” follows with an acoustic guitar driven display of warm, folk influenced song craft.
Moving towards the middle, “Unlocked Doors” explores sublime areas of intimacy that benefit from Fullbright’s poetic singing and the aching pedal steel, while “Social Skills” picks up the pace with a crisp and cathartic country rocker.
Near to the end, “Poster Child” offers louder keys and a bit of a chilling atmosphere that’s a bit more abrasive with call and response singing and a nearly theatrical delivery, and “Gasoline” exits the listen with jumpy piano and a charming friskiness that’s as upbeat as it is infectious.
Fullbright’s version of Americana isn’t easy to classify, but it sure is easy to enjoy, and these diverse 12 songs are full of sharp lyricism, soulful moments, humorous bouts, and sounds as wide as honky tonk and alt-country.
Travels well with: Adam Carroll- I Walked In Them Shoes; Joe Pug- The Flood In Color