More exciting roots music releases from Joyann Parker, Tom Heyman, Austin Gilliam and Jeshua Marshall.
Joanne Parker – Roots
Singer, guitarist and lead player Joyann Parker opens Roots in a rock mood with the album's title, a humming guitar groove about overcoming adversity and looking for a great life path. There's a reason the song is at the beginning of the album — it's super catchy and will be an earworm for many. Parker's work touches on many genres here. “Faintly Optimist” moves to a funky southern rock tune, “Wash It Away” is reminiscent of Allison Moorer's soulful work, “What's Good for You” is an energetic jangle rocker, and “Juxtaposition” bounces to a reggae beat. What ties it all together beautifully is Parker's voice, whether it's tempered with sadness like on “Old Flame,” calling to the heavens with the acoustic blues of “Forsaken,” or kicking some bluegrass hay on the barn burner of “Miss Evangeline.” . The baker's dozen of original tunes here make for a very satisfying listen.
Tom Heyman –
24th Street Blues
Heyman shows his folk pedigree on this album's title cut, playing softly picked acoustic guitar and haunting pedal steel on a track that's an honest observation of a less-than-satisfying life in San Francisco. At its heart the song isn't really a complaint. It's more of an admonition not to get caught up in the grittier side of city life (drug addicts, the homeless, and the downtrodden in general are mentioned.) Surprisingly, the John Prine-evoking “Desperate” is upbeat and upbeat, while the “Barbara Jean” a soft country rock beat follows. “Hidden History”, with more pedal steel flavoring the cut, is about feeling invincible when dealing drugs as a teenager (though the dealer in question gets caught), “Like a Lion” is the most impressive track on the album while “Searching for the Holy” Ghost” is a twang-
mid tempo rocker. Hardship is the recurring theme here, and the story of a laborer played out in the “White Econoline” is perhaps the most notable story. 24th Street Blues. A second version of “Desperate” with a bit of a gospel feel closes the album.
Austin Gilliam – I'm sorry, I'm fine
Here's a five-song EP from native Texan Austin Gilliam that offers a brief but powerful taste of what the singer-guitarist is all about. “A Little Dirt” is a rollicking honky-tonk number that's danceable but also has sing-along lyrics. Two of the effort's songs have titles that combine to make the EP's title. “I'm Sorry” is an apology for a failed relationship and a plea for more time to make it work, in a catchy tune where wailing guitar parts enhance Gilliam's earnest words. On the other side of the coin, “I'm Fine” proclaims undying devotion to a lover while also acknowledging that the definition of “fine” can be a bit more stretched. While you might expect the Texan to operate strictly in the Americana vein, “I'm Fine” has a definite pop or alt rock feel to it. Rounding out the effort is the rocker “Never Gonna Die” while “Runnin'” is a soaring country heartland rock number with plenty of regret in it.
Jeshua Marshall – The flood
Here is a really nice set of songs mostly written by singer and guitarist Jeshua Marshall himself. He kicks off the album with “Water,” a soulful groove that has a gospel feel, but with its spontaneous horn section and searing guitar solos the track lives in a more worldly place. The title track “The Flood” dances to a reggae beat and features a catchy chorus. again the horns play a big part in the sound. A highlight of the album is “Agua Es Vida,” another reggae-flavored track that features guest vocalist Yanin Saavedra. the Mexican singer wrote the song's lyrics and performs many of them in her native Spanish, almost rapping at times. The Spanish flavor continues with a Latin horn flourish at the beginning of “Closed Doors,” but the song as a whole is country punk rock. Marshall has a relaxed, friendly and easy going voice. not to be lost here is his incredible talent on the electric guitar.
