With so many indie band and solo artists’ appeal levels hovering around “disaster with a microphone” and “a voice only a mother could love,” it is refreshing–nay, rewarding–to find an artist like Dave Barnes whose youthful, soulful, and relevant voice makes you want to stare at the speaker. If you have the opportunity to trade the speaker for a live performance you’ll notice the same thing, plus an innocence that makes you want to muss his hair.
Having come a long way from his guitar/man tete-a-tete release back in 2002, Barnes seems, in this album, to be on a mission to prove musical genres are just a formality. I like a man who can open an album with a confident opinion. “I believe that we can change the world,” he declares in the throwback ‘Brothers & Sisters.’ Next on the menu, rip the knees out of those jeans because a traditional rock rhythm meets you at a hazy southern bar. Next up, the Fray-esque/Ben Folds ‘Until You’ and ‘When a Heart Breaks’ (two stand-out tunes) which you’ll have repeating in your head when you wake up–but not in an annoying way. From there, gospel. Why not? R&B. Of course! Don’t leave out those old acoustic folk roots. Coming right up! The question is: does such variety work?
There is a danger inherent in a scope too broad. The man who wants to cross the mountains can’t focus on the whole range, he must eventually choose a path through. Dave’s strength is in his folk/pop rock melodies. It’s clear the man has more talent than he can use, and certainly his ability to write for different genres works well as a songwriter. As a performer though, no one ever pulls off lasting versatility. I confess, a couple of the tunes grated on me. The beauty of Barnes’ voice is its conviction and sincerity. In ‘On a Night Like This’ you know he means it. Sooner or later the best voice bubbles to the surface, and the fans–of which I am one–will pay to hear it again and again.
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.davebarnes.com
http://www.razorandtie.com
