Anders Osborne – Picasso’s Villa
Anders Osborne’s new album Picasso’s Villa is one of those albums where talented musicians pitched in for a song or two (check the credits), and all the songs are fantastic heartland and jammy rock that sing of trysts and the naiveté of some folks just enjoying the sunshine and traipsing though life.
The album sets out with acoustic strings in “Dark Decatur Love” and a melody and “I didn’t even know your name but we made sure to be best friends – dark Decatur love, fast and fading love.” He has a very unique cadence, and his songwriting often has two repeated phrases in a signature style evidenced in this one – just very cool.
“Reckless Heart” is a nice and easy rocker, while Anders sings of the innocence that’s continually reborn in the morning, at least for those who’ve been blessed with a reckless heart, when “you’re listening to a deeper call.” This could be a lost song from Springsteen’s catalogue.
“Picasso’s Villa,” the title track, pulses out B3 organ and quick fiddle in an up tempo number about artists and madness, “nobody here will miss you ’til you got what they need.”
“Bewildered” is a glance back at the ’80s and everybody making money, “the radio was playing Michael and Madonna” … and then John Lennon was shot… “nothing changes and nothing stays the same…. keep living like the end is here, we’re only people bewildered by love and fear.” And now Anders’ vocals take on a 70s Neil Young tone, somehow, in the midst of speaking some serious truth.
“Le Grand Zombie” is low key easier number with bass strings, snappy drums and organ, and touts both a horn section and a string section as it crescendoes, but it always stays nice and easy. There’s a touch of reggae feel and a Grateful Dead timbre to the style here, as this song sings of New Orleans and the good ol’ doctor who eases the pain.
This is a conglomeration of heartland and jam band rock, and he has a lot to say. It’s easy to see why he’s embraced in the jam band and Southern jamboree scenes, and this album is absolutely your own personal summertime festival. Find more information and details on his website here: https://www.andersosborne.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Louisiana Blues Meets California Cool on “Buddha and the Blues” by Anders Osborne
Musicians on the album are Anders Osborne on guitars and vocals; Waddy Wachtel (Warren Zevon) on guitars; Bob Glaub (Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne) on bass; Chad Cromwell (Neil Young) on drums, percussion, and background vocals. Plus Ivan Neville: B3 Organ on “Picasso’s Villa” and “Le Grand Zombie”; Johnny Sansone on harmonica on “Dark Decatur Love”; Gina Forsyth on fiddle on “Picasso’s Villa”; Brad Walker on saxophone on “Le Grand Zombie”; Steve Lands on trumpet on “Le Grand Zombie”; John Ramm on trombone on “Le Grand Zombie”; and Windy Wagner-Cromwell on background vocals on “To Live,” “Dark Decatur Love,” “Le Grand Zombie,” and “Picasso’s Villa” ; Irena Sage on background vocals on “Dark Decatur Love”; Eric Bolivar on background vocals on “Bewildered”; and Tiffany Lamson on background vocals on “Real Good Dirt.” And there is additional instrumentation by Budapest Strings on “Le Grand Zombie,” which was arranged by Amotz Plessner.
Picasso’s Villa was produced by Chad Cromwell; recorded by Nico Bolas at Esplanade Studios NOLA; assisted by Jess Solon at Esplanade Studios with additional engineering by Tiffany Lamson. It was mixed by David Kalmusky at Addiction Studios in Nashville; with executive producers Ben Anderson and Paige Anderson. Cover are is by Dave Caron and the package design is by Mark Berger.