Ethan Daniel Davidson – Lear
Old-fashioned in style but effective in a good troubadour warm tradition. The songs are well-crafted with coherent vocals. Nothing raw like Dave Van Ronk, or monotone like David Blue, or dry as Bill Morrissey, but textured with a Don McLean, Eric Andersen & Luka Bloom-oriented approach. The first 3 tracks have their appeal – “Stop Breaking Down,” “Count the Knives,” & “The World We Wanted” with delicacy, a light sprinkle of sarcasm & lots of expressive lines.
There are only 8 indelible slices of folk songwriting to this homespun collection of Lear (Drops Nov 14/Blue Arrow Records/44:04) recorded in 3 days live with minimal overdubbing in Mississippi & produced by Luther Dickinson (guitars/vocals/mando-guitar) & David Katznelson.
An impressive ballad is the slow-burning “Bad Company Brought Me Here,” with its whiny pedal steel so appropriate for a tune such as this. Ethan (vocals/electric & acoustic guitars/ harmonica) applies a good back porch languid vocal to the long “Bad Company,” but the musicians craft a humid, haunting accompaniment. You want mood – I offer this track. Good late-night stuff with the last call whiskey shot & trip to the can.
Ethan manages to render some songs with an air of Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard & Kris Kristofferson, but never comes off as an Outlaw Country personality. “Not Breaking Hearts” is far deeper into the country tradition than the other tunes. Well done. Should’ve spelled the title out more dramatically though – “Not Breaking Hearts, Anymore (Like They Used To).” That would get people wondering.
The balance of the tunes is well-played but sung more in a falsetto voice that never appealed to me, no matter who sang. I felt it was a shortcut for those who couldn’t sing as a pure tenor. But I will admit Ethan’s application is not spare & off the cuff – his sincerity still comes through his voice, especially on the ambitious “Waiting For Me” with its hot guitar solo reminiscent of Andy Summers’ 14-minute masterful solo on Eric Burdon & the Animals’ “Colored Rain.”
The album is impressive. Mr. Davidson can switch from pure country to blues in the shake of the dice. He manages delicacy with finesse (“Goodbye”) & coats the tune with an expressive harmonica.
Highlights – “Stop Breaking Down,” “Count the Knives,” “The World We Wanted,” “Bad Company Brought Me Here,” “Not Breaking Hearts,” “Waiting For Me,” & “Goodbye.”
Musicians – Marco Giovino (drums/percussion), Rayfield Holloman (pedal steel/ electric piano/organ/piano), Byron House (upright bass/bass guitar), Alvin Youngblood Hart (backing vocals/lead guitar on “How Can One Keep Warm”), Duane Betts (lead guitar on “Not Breaking Hearts”), Jimbo Mathus & Dale Wilson (bgv).
Color image courtesy of Doug Combe. CD @ Apple & Amazon + https://www.ethandanieldavidson.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Video Premiere: Ethan Daniel Davidson “Even Bad Seeds”
