In this present era of indie groaners and navel gazers, here are a couple albums that are throwbacks.
Jefferson Grizzard sings, plays guitar and composes the material here with a band that includes Mike Brignardello/b, Will Denton-Steve Brewster/dr, Dennis Wage/key, Aubrey Haynie/v-mand, Eric Darken/perc and Dan Dugmore/pg. His voice hovers between a rasp of vintage Dylan and early Tom Petty, with an easy beat on pieces such as “Give Me A Sign.” Songs like “Adelaide” have a BTO feel, while hints of The Eagles create a groove on “Lovely Senorita” and “Sinners Like Me (Can’t Be Saved” which includes a nice moody B3. Some Nashville skyline pops through with Haynie’s violin adding atmosphere on “Honey You Can’t Treat me Wrong” while Grizzard gets intimate and confessional with his guitar on the heart on sleeve closer “Daydream of Hope.” Good fare for the blue jean crowd!
Mark Huff sounds like a dash of Lou Reed got into his dna as he sings like he’s talking on this album with Audley Freed/g, Paul Griffith/dr, Jen Gunderman/key, Mark Robinson/g-mand and Mike Varno/b. Poppish is quite catchy on “Sweeter Than” while hints of Tom Petty and The Eagles once again come out on “Just Before the Fade” and “Teardrop In Your Drink.” The Velvet Underground meets Blondie on “ Almost True” while the mood changes with acoustic guitars on “New Day Light.” Jeans, sweater and shades.