The Lonely Pines
Crooked Prairie, 2021
9/10
The Bay Area artist Jesse Brewster has played plenty of genres during his many years as a musician, and here with his 5th LP he lyrically examines the process of moving on while using country, folk, Americana and roots sounds in his highly memorable formula.
“Let’s Run Away” starts the listen with Brewster’s sharp guitar playing that helps radiate warm, organic melodies as smooth singing complements the rootsy setting, and “Kicking And Screaming” follows with some folk-rock sensibilities as Brewster hits some high notes alongside plenty of grit.
“Southern” resides near the middle and recruits subtle gospel influences into the acoustic guitar and harmonica friendly display, while “Close To Home” isn’t short on vocal harmonies and jangly riffs in its rural rockin’ climate. “So Much Good Right Here”, a pretty yet rugged form of Americana, then makes an immediate impression in its glowing songwriting.
Closer to the finish, “No One To Blame” is vocally strong and musically inviting amid stirring storytelling and a cautious atmosphere, and “Amber Kinney” exits the listen with strings adding an emotional aspect to the Celtic folk influenced conclusion to a very well thought out listen.
The kind of music Brewster plays might seem more suited for Nashville than San Francisco, but that isn’t stopping the seasoned veteran from placing twang into his rock formula that’s easy to enjoy and difficult to forget. How he’s this many albums deep into a solo career without being everyone’s go to Americana singer-songwriter is beyond me, cause few people are doing it better.
Travels well with: Domenic Cicala- Come On Over; D.L. Marble- One Line At A Time