This Better Be Good
Red Parlor, 2022
8/10
A more personal outing for the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Peter Donovan, This Better Be Good recruits Dune Butler (bass guitar, synthesizers), Kate Dinsmore (background vocals), William Mapp (drums, percussion), Cole Schuster (electric guitar), Owen Thayer (pedal steel), Charles Wicklander (organs, pianos) and Bradley Laina for the diverse and genuine song craft.
The title track opens the listen with Donovan’s bright and expressive vocals that takes help from warm guitar and crisp drumming as a pop-friendly version of Americana unfolds, and “Sweet Trouble” follows with elegant keys and a very poetic approach that touches on folk ideas.
Deeper into the 11 tracks, “Phone Call From A Ghost” is indeed a bit haunting as Thayer’s well timed pedal steel makes for a very reflective atmosphere, while “I Won’t Just Stand There” picks the pace up with a scrappy indie-rock appeal.
Making our way towards the end, “Don’t Drag Me Down” offers breezy melodies in the very timeless version of roots rock, and “If I Knew Then” exits the listen with some grit amid the firm keys, thumping drums and bouncy bass.
Sometimes pointing towards the ‘70s for influences, while other times sounding quite modern, luminaries like Bob Dylan, Conor Oberst, Randy Newman and Kelly Clarkson won’t be hard to spot, and Donovan’s balancing of intimacy and power-pop moments makes him quite a stand out in the area of Americana.
Travels well with: David Quinn- Country Fresh; Van Plating- The Way Down