Hope Is Hard To Kill
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
Listen to Hope Is Hard To Kill
The guitarist and vocalist Don Arbor is joined by quite a few friends for these authentic and timeless songs that touch on dreams, observations, love and loss.
“Lost” starts the listen with Arbor’s smooth voice and Kevin Hayes’ punchy drumming that suits the soaring guitar licks, and “Paradise Is Burning” follows with Mads Tolling’s stirring violin and Jill Suttie’s gentle harmony vocals amid much elegance and grace.
Closer to the middle, “Lost And Found Saloon” benefits from John Mader’s gentle drumming, John R. Burr’s colorful keys and Arbor’s poetic pipes, while “Losing You Gets Harder Every Time” offer a cozy duet via Suttie’s pretty voice and Tal Morri’ melodic guitar playing.
Getting closer to the end, the lively rocker “Age Of Information” allows for Curtis Ohlson’s playful bass to complement Morris’ meticulous guitar in a crunchy climate, and “Christmas On Mars” exits with some grit alongside the scrappy rhythm section and processed vocals.
Somewhere between folk, Americana, roots and gold old fashioned rock’n’roll, Arbor pens tunes you won’t soon forget, and here we’re treated to 12 of them.
Travels well with: Wesley Hanna- Magnolia; Marty Cooper- American Portraits