Ron Pope – American Man, American Music
While the lyrics, music & showcase have all the elements required if Ron Pope just adds a little more edge & vinegar to his voice he’d be in the Steve Earle arena. No doubt. It’s like Bruce Springsteen & John Mellencamp, or Elton John & Billy Joel — they each walk opposite sides of the street but are both in the same neighborhood. I like this guy Ron Pope. He takes something that basically was sculpted by others before him & shapes it into his own statue. It ain’t clay, it’s marble.
The songs are strong, well arranged & performed. “Nobody’s Gonna Make It Out Alive,” “I Gotta Change (Or I’m Gonna Die),” & definitely the wonderful “Klonopin Zombies.” All definitive performances. The Newark, NJ artist Ron Pope produced & recorded these 10 well-written tunes in Nashville, TN for American Man, American Music (Drops Feb 14/Brooklyn Basement Records/36:33)
“In the Morning With the Coffee On,” is splendid. Simple. But no one taps into this simplicity with such poignancy. Oh, maybe John Prine did but he’s gone now. Who wouldn’t want to be in his songwriting company? It isn’t so much that a singer-songwriter has been influenced stylistically by those who came before them it’s how they add their own ingredients to the mix that brings out a song’s spirit. Pope succeeds here.
The way Laura Nyro wrote songs & were picked up by others Ron’s showcase is loaded with creative songs that any established artist would cover. Why? Because writing a good song is as difficult as practicing the piano or guitar. Takes skill. Others had it – Marc Cohn (“Silver Thunderbird,” “Walking In Memphis”), Joe Henry, Peter Himmelman (“Only You Can Walk Away”) & John Hiatt.
“The Queen of Fort Payne, Alabama,” has energy & Springsteen fervor. I’m Not the Devil” has a wonderful female counter vocal to Pope much the same as the beautifully intense duet on William Topley’s “Delta Rain” with Rebecca Price (1991). Digs deep, touches something inside as some say.
This is an artist to appreciate. Put on headphones & bring some Jack Daniels. Then explore American Man, American Music.
Highlights – “Nobody’s Gonna Make It Out Alive,” “I Gotta Change (Or I’m Gonna Die),” “Klonopin Zombies,” “In the Morning With the Coffee On,” “I Pray I’ll Be Seeing You Soon,” I’m Not the Devil,” “Mama Drove a Mustang” & “The Life In Your Years.”
Musicians – Robbie Crowell (drums/percussion/Hammond), Seth Taylor (electric, slide, acoustic, high strung, Nylon string & rubber bridge guitars/mandolin/banjo/tambourine), Elizabeth Dewey (harmonies), Kevin Black (electric bass/harmony), Jeff Picker (upright & electric bass), Billy Contreras (fiddle), Jeff Malinowski (electric/acoustic guitars/harmony/ piano/harmonica), Shaun Richardson (12-string guitar/acoustic & high-strung guitars/mandolin), Steve Bowman (percussion/drums), Philip Sterl (pedal steel), Darbi Shaun & Zach Berkman (harmonies), Taylor Bickett (vocals), Kaitlyn Raitz (cello) & Charles Ray (trumpet).
CD color image by Blair Clark. CD @ Bandcamp & https://ronpope.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Ron Pope’s “Bone Structure” is Always Catchy with Hidden Depth