Posted on: July 12, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

Colin comes forth on eir “Sessions Down the Shore” with “Idea”, a track that keeps up a bouncy flow even as little adorns the track besides a guitar (with bass accompanying) and vocals. The production is nothing special, but the nuance of Colin’s vocals are captured perfectly. I could completely see a song like “Idea” having a second life on rotation, something that would be made all the more impressive if Colin could have included a live version of this track at the end of the disc. Regardless, ey goes into the second track “Truth” strong, and in a way that will made individuals hopeful for the future. While the bass line in “Idea” was just working alongside the guitar line, by the time that “Truth” starts the bass fills in those moments that the guitar is not playing, bouncing and flittering around.

This allows the overall sound of the disc to be more varied as well as keeps individuals interested in what Colin has to say. Each of the disc’s first two tracks is short enough that Colin can bow out and find a way to impress listeners with an entirely new approach. Thus, by the time that ey gets to “Now I”, ey is at a strong position few artists are able to achieve. The more Latin flow of ”Now I’ is tempered by the blend of Tori Amos and Fiona Apple in the vocals of Colin, but this track is by far the most energetic up to this point on the album. The production is still maintained at that level that does not overshadow the arrangements on the disc but also does not hinder the constructs on “Sessions Down The Shore”. The only weakness that can be heard on “Sessions Down the Shore” has to be the slower tempoed ”Nothin’ Without Your Love”.

While it is true that Colin is trying to recall the slower, older country ballads, there is little on this track to focus on besides the repetitive arrangements and vocals. Still, the bass line is strong and feeds in to the track “Sweater”, which speeds things back up and gets the ship righted. The song mixes the aforementioned Tori Amos-type of vocals (think “Cornflake Girl”) with a more jazz meets Santana type of style. The result is an eclectic success, and Colin moves towards the second half of the disc strong. Pick it up.

Top Tracks: Sweater, Unconditionally

Rating: 6.3/10

Colin – Sessions Down the Shore / 2006 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.feistyfolk.com / Reviewed 20 March 2007

[JMcQ]

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