Halfway From Nashville
Cosmic Cowboy, 2020
8/10
Listen to Halfway From Nashville
Halfway From Nashville is Sean Harrison’s return to music after many years squandered with drugs and booze. Now sober, the singer-songwriter is making up for lost time with both quirky and heartfelt songs that span country, blues, rock and Americana.
Harrison starts the listen with the title track, where his soft, expressive vocals flow alongside aching pedal steel in the warm country setting, and “Go To Girl” follows with a breezy Americana spirit as subdued melodies populate the rural landscape.
Halfway through, “Wake Up Dead” recruits some folk influences as Harrison’s vivid storytelling benefits greatly from Don Martin’s frisky percussion, while “Fingertips” flows with a firm beat as country rock and romance meet in a kind of eccentric place. “Psychedelic”, one of the best tunes present, then resides closer to traditional rock’n’roll and unfolds with Harrison’s unique charm.
The final two tracks retain the strong song craft present from the beginning, and includes the classic rock guitars of the playful “Worried”, and “Breathe Out Her Names” exits the listen in ballad territory, where Harrison’s gentle execution makes a lasting impression.
Harrison alternates between singing and talking, and he’s got a voice with a wise tone that makes it apparent he’s seen a thing or two in his day. Though this debut probably comes years, if not decades, later than he intended, it certainly showcases his authentic and timeless songwriting splendidly.
Travels well with: Jim Stanard- Color Outside The Lines;; Philip Scott Poli- One Sky