Earnestness. It's the first thing that comes to mind while listening to Jeff Black's 4th album, Tin Lily. It's conveyed through the lyrics, and more importantly, the way Black delivers those lyrics with a gritty, blue-collared voice that seems to bolster the sincerity which infuses the twelve tracks of the album.To help support his voice and guitar playing, Black has enlisted some experienced help: mandolinist Sam Bush, former Johnny Cash bassist Dave Roe, former Steve Earle drummer Craig Wright, and guitarists Will Kimbrough and Kenny Vaughan (who performs with Kim Richey who I just wrote about last week).
At times when he's rockin', Jeff sounds like a pared down Bruce Springsteen. Other times, his sound is much more simple,intimate, and mellow, more like a pared down Bruce Hornsby. The first track below, Easy On Me (my favorite track of the album), features some nice harmonica. The second, Libertine, has echos of Springsteen mentioned above.
Jeff Black - Easy On Me : Tin Lily
Jeff Black - Libertine : Tin Lily
Visit his website, his label Dualtone Records, and become his friend on MySpace.
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Bruce Springsteen and Bruce Hornsby - You Can Look (live) : Love, Tears & Mystery (disc 6)
Buy some Springsteen or some Hornsby
2 comments:
I think that Jeff Black is one of the most overlooked / underrated singer-songwriters of the day -- he's a wonderful writer AND he has an awesome, soulful voice -- I have turned on soooooo many friends to him -- but be respectful of the indy artists rights-- don't rip copies for your friends -- have them buy their own copies. Thanks. BTW, if you like JB and Kim Richey you ought to check out Josh Rouse, Todd Snider and Bob Schneider
Jeff Black is an amazing artist. Soulful, poigant, raw with complicated simplicity. The depth of his musical voice is not something coveted in a fast-food, soundbite world or will be appreciated or cultivated by today's music business. Those who know the beauty of his avocation must carry the torch for Jeff's music and take solace in the brethren who get it. As Garrison Keillor has stated: "Charisma is pure fiction and so is brilliance. It’s the dummies who sit on the dais and it’s the smart people who sit in the dark near the exits."
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