Steve Smyth - Release Album Review
This is a great album that everyone can relate to and should wake a lot of people up from the slumber they’ve been in, missing out on this guy.
rating: 4.5
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stevesmythofficial Website: www.stevesmyth.com.au Release date: March 19th A while back, we featured a stream of up-and-coming singer-songwriter Steve Smyths video for his debut single. As expected with a stream, it was a little taster of the bigger dish; a starter to whet your appetite. If you had the luck to stumble across it, then you wont want me repeating what you already know, but if you didnt manage to give it a listen then in all honesty, you missed out. The video is a true example of what Smyths style is all about and gave us enough reason to feature it on Whatculture, it showed why hes developing such a dedicated following: a catchy, delicately strummed acoustic guitar that cuts you with its precise incision and detail, Smyths vocals which swerve from gentle, comforting tones to rough, gravelly characteristics that bring to mind the influence of Tom Waits and real, honest lyrics that show his creativity and passion not only lies in the actual song-writing but in the writing of lyrics, too. Smyth isnt just a product of a producer or label who he snared the attention of at an early age, either. In fact, that couldnt be further from the truth. Hes had to build on other careers to achieve his real goal; he finished a carpentry apprenticeship when he was 21 and after that he polished, created, demolished and scrapped songs like hed done for years with houses, buildings, schools, furniture. After that, the term go-hard-or-go-home has never meant a more significant move. He decided to move to London and toured with the likes of Ben Harper, Avi Buffalo and Howling Bells, allowing for his reputation and potential to grow in abundance and saw him work with the likes of Sean Lennon and Operation Juliet moves which would only further his nous of the musical industry and, indeed, of his musical self. Not to mention his status as a character to keep an eye on. It all stemmed from his childhood, though. Nirvana started him off, then his dad introduced him to Neil Young, then a neighbour taught him all he knew about bluegrass, blues and country music. Not a bad childhood, eh? Smyth says that the two of them (Smyth and the neighbour) would sit in the garden, drink vats-full of coca cola and learn to sing from the heart, and loud. The seed had been planted and it had taken years of it being watered and tended to until it finally blossomed and burst out of every pore, lending itself to Smyths already-matured musical eagerness and creativity, resulting in the unique, talented singer-songwriter we hear on his debut album. It starts with the captivating, memorable Barbiturate Cowboy And His Dark Horses. Smyth lulls you into a false pretence with his mellow, melancholic vocals alongside a marching, deep riff which snatches your attention immediately. The line of all the pennies in the wishing well is a particular one that makes its home in your mind, as youll find yourself singing the line long after, days after, the songs finished. Just as the track gets into an easy-going rhythm, Smyth uses his gravelly, almost snarling vocal style to great effect, showing the listener that the song has darker connotations and belies the meaning that the accessible music may give. http://youtu.be/F4FjaY2NZKg Endless Nowdays has a really reachable pace that places the track as one that can be played in the background while you enjoy a beer or a wine or a whisky (whatever your tipple is) or can even be played on your iPod while youre running or can even be played if you want a meaningful listen a listen thatll brighten up your day. Smyth uses his deep, lulling tones in such a way that the track sounds as if its made for him and it wouldnt be a surprise if he wrote this track years ago. It sounds so refined, crisp and fitting that its not really questionable why its being released as a single. No Mans Land starts with a fuzzy, rock guitar; something new to the album. Smyths vocals sound full of anguish and its as if hes remembering ghosts from his past that he perhaps shouldnt be thinking about. The chorus of This is no mans land is repeated over and over in his tormented style which really sets the song as one thats intended to be a sorrowful listen and also indicates that he wants the listener to remember ghosts from their past, too. Perhaps the most evocative track on offer. http://youtu.be/V4QRCutNbnM Too Much ANuthin is more like spoken-word rather than a singer-songwriters track on an album. Ive lost plenty of nothings / I watch them come / I see them pass brings the listener into the track and gives no precedence apart from that Smyth is about to delve into more memories of his past. Of an ex-girlfriend, a friend, or even a family member isnt made clear throughout the track but what is made clear is that the tracks intended to hit home with the listener that everyone loses something or someone dear to them and that theyre never alone. At the end of the track, a cheer from a lone man is heard. Whether thats meant to be a lone fan at a gig, or even Smyth himself, doesnt really matter because that shout of joy gives life to the metaphor of the track: you may lose someone but always enjoy what youve got and make the most of every moment. The shout juxtaposes the songs feel but thats what its meant to do and it works wonderfully. Its great to know that there are singer-songwriters out there of this calibre. This is a great album that everyone can relate to and should wake a lot of people up from the slumber theyve been in, missing out on this guy. Excuse me while I put it on repeat again, turn out the lights and give it another listen.