LoveSeat – Our Way
Amazing how many variations of the same genre can be showcased by varied voices & musicians. LoveSeat isn’t doing anything completely innovative or challenging, but what they do is provide a pleasant atmosphere through their country-satisfying music. It’s old school duets for sure — much the same as what George Jones & Tammy Wynette succeeded at.
With the clever narrative of “The Old Me,” & the added Tex-Mex cushion in that tune, the duo of Bill Passalacqua (guitar) & JJ Passalacqua come off like a deep country version of John Prine & Bonnie Raitt, or John Prine & Iris Dement. Quite a nice mash-up.
This is the first album of tunes from the Illinois husband & wife duo who are known as LoveSeat. Produced in Arkansas by Ezra Idlet (acoustic & electric guitars/spoons) with the final cut produced by Sam Roan (electric guitars/bass) & George Ozier (baritone guitar). There are 9 songs done, Our Way (Drops April 25/Reckless Pedestrian Records/29:22).
“Our Way Instead” is a simpler country tune with a strong harmonica (Kelly Mulholland) presence & sung with no showboating or country corn. Just simply put the way a talented husband & wife would late at night with a jug on the back porch, guitars or dogs in their laps & crickets & owls for an audience.
More ambitious is the fiddle (Dylan Hawf) driven “Clock & Speedometer” with its upbeat snare & persuasive tale. The showcase is always energetic & with their homegrown sincerity, these singers just sound like great singers who happen to live next door.
They switch off on lead vocals & often sing together with assurance & have created a style that isn’t as prevalent today as it once was. Classic country, waltz time, bittersweet melodies & country savoring. Many songs feature a playful interplay of voices. The only suggestion I’d make down the line would be to sing something with a little edge. The album, despite its old-fashioned affinity, on a whole is entertaining.
Highlights – “The Old Me,” “Our Way Instead,” “Clock & Speedometer,” “Hard To Believe,” & “Ugliest House In Town.”
Musicians – Keith Grimwood (electric bass/upright bass), John Davies (electric bass), Oliver Stack (accordion), Kelly Mulholland (harmonica/mandolin/banjo), Dylan Hawf & Gina Forsythe (fiddles), Dana Idlet (harmony), Paul Pearcy (drums), Kendell Scott (acoustic guitar), Boaz Kim (bass/harmonica), Jim Jernigan (clarinet), JJ Poss (vocals) & Mark Cornell (horn arrangement).
Color image courtesy of their CD package. CD @ https://billpossmusic.net/home
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Song Premiere: LoveSeat “The Old Me”