Ethan Samuel Brown – Small Actors
This project starts off with excellent production clarity on the opening poetic tune “Rothko” which finds Brown with a good vocal style. The vintage-styled lead guitar strikes are tastefully similar to the 1979 Rocky Burnette hit “Tired of Toein’ the Line” – a nice touch here that’s seldom heard. (A clean version of the song should’ve been included for radio airplay).
Recorded in Nashville & produced by Parker McAnnally (organ/auxiliary) the 10 Small Actors (Drops Jan 10/Independent/37:00) here all have their own succinct melodic showcase firmly in place. “Salutation Waltz” is more of a big production with Celtic flourishes & tasty woodwind & horn arrangements throughout by Jovan Quallo (sax/clarinet/flute).
It’s tempting to say Brown is somewhat in a James Taylor or early Elton John realm but that wouldn’t be accurate. His varied musical testaments are fluid as Chris Rea, the late Clifford T. Ward (“Home Thoughts From Abroad,” “Gaye” & “Wherewithal”) & David McWilliams (“The Days of Pearly Spencer,” “Marlena”). This is especially evident in “Rose Hill,” which is simply lovely.
Kentucky’s Ethan Samuel Brown (guitar/piano/vocal) isn’t creating anything new, but he’s sustaining an old tradition of strong melodies, poignancy & interesting creative tales surrounded by musical notes that are adhesive to the ears. Haunting pieces like “Being Blue,” are light & airy. Some have more of a Euro-texture since these types of songs tend to chart better in Europe. Maybe that audience is more prone to sentimentality, melancholy & songwriters with individuality.
Brown, for his daring, lays out a thicker realm than the more mainstream-oriented artists who are more preoccupied with chart action than developing an audience who prefers purism in songs more valued than sheer commerciality.
Ethan’s virtuosity shines on “Five Dollar Cover” — more like a country-oriented rootsy-Americana road song. The descriptive lyric can almost fill your shoes with dust & gravel, sweat behind the neck, a cold Coke behind your ear & memories of a girl in a halter pumping gas into your pick-up which is its last tire treads with 200 miles more to go. Lovely invigorating pedal steel guitar dominates. Brown decorates each song with interesting performances. A deep well of covers for singers who don’t write their own.
A glorious rocker bangs on your ears with “Am I American?” that would give Neil Young, or Todd Rundgren a run for their money. Gnarly, rustic, wrapped in asbestos & raw. Just too short. Wear gloves when handling this one.
A good beginning for 2025. I’m optimistic about albums like this. Take a bow, Ethan.
Highlights – “Rothko,” “Salutation Waltz,” “Rose Hill,” “Being Blue,” “Five Dollar Cover,” “Am I American?” & “When I Found You.”
Musicians – John Wood (drums/percussion), Michael Zimmerman (bass), Jules Belmont (guitar/pedal steel), Jen Starsinic (violin/piano/organ), Austin Hoke (cello), Lydia Warren (harp/organ/Wurlitzer), Zach Torres & Natalie Duffy (bgvs).
Cover photo courtesy of Lindsey Morgan. CD @ https://www.ethansamuelbrown.com/ethansamuelbrown
