Ok, so I think this review deserves a bit of back story. Last week I went to an open mic night to support my best friend. We were the first to arrive and as we were sitting at the bar talking in walks the most magnificent top hat. This top hat was being worn by a man with a guitar (not the most unusual of sights, especially in Nashville). The man introduced himself as Curtis. As we sat there talking we learned that Curtis was from Australia and had left on a round the world trip to play his music (at least partially funded by the album I'm reviewing). A couple of other interesting individuals gathered around us and we began discussing music, the places we were from, the places we had been, the places we were going, and there may have been a few buffalo jokes in there as well. As Curtis began talking about his style he described it as “Eclectic Acoustic Rock,” and went on to state that it may be a bit different since Australia doesn't have a Blues tradition in its music. Needless to say, my interest was piqued. Curtis got up when it was his turn and played two songs off of his album. I left shortly after, but not before getting Sleeping Lions, and his permission to review it. Bear in mind that Curtis had said that Australia didn't have a Blues tradition, so imagine my surprise when the first song on the album began and I hear something that hit me right where I live. Don't Call me Ma'am was so bluesy. I was thrown for a loop. Next up was Let U Know. This one wasn't particularly bluesy, but had more of a singer/songwriter feel and shows Curtis' ability to craft a catchy melody. Jo was a fun, groovy acoustic rock song. Words Don't Mean A Thing was a bit more somber, and a bit bluesier. Queen of Poetry (one of the two songs played at the open mic) was fun and slightly confusing...at first. It's about a man who falls in love with the queen of poetry whose name is Brigit and happens to be “500 meters tall” (that's just over 1640 feet for you non-metric users). Now, this song is either entirely metaphorical, entirely abstract, or about the Celtic goddess Brigid, who was linked to tall things and poetry (as well as about a dozen other things) which would be rather fitting for a musician, especially one in a top hat. Tree and The Cat (the other song sang at the open mic) is a return to that bluesy form from earlier in the album and is a charming story of a friendship between a cat named Midnight and a tree. He Ran Away From Me continues the bluesiness, and seems to be at least semi-autobiographical. Last, but most certainly not least, is Vali Myers. For those of you who don't know, Vali Myers was a dancer and artist from Australia who became a fixture in the Bohemian subculture of the 50s and 60s. She danced, she used ink and watercolor to make some really psychedelic looking art, she tattooed herself, she tattooed other people (most notably the “punk poet laureate” Patti Smith), she was a mover and shaker within the artistic community at the time. This song is so groovy and bluesy that I half expected to be teleported to some smoky juke joint on the outskirts of Memphis, TN while listening to it. This was probably my favorite song on the entire album. Seriously, it's amazing. I may be a bit biased since I grew up about an hour outside of Memphis, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this is a seriously cool song.
Overall, Sleeping Lions by Curtis Why is a perfect representation of the artist that created it. It is human, unapologetically so. It is real, raw, imperfect, and incredible because of it. It is the antithesis of the stuff we hear on mainstream American radio so often (so overly processed and “perfect”) and as such is a refreshing change of pace. It has layers of depth. The album as a whole is somewhat reminiscent of early Dave Matthews (if it were just Dave and his acoustic) mixed with just a touch of The Black Crowes. If you get the chance to see Curtis Why play live I definitely suggest that you do, and while you're there pick up a copy of Sleeping Lions. You won't regret it. Check out the album at: https://soundcloud.com/curtiswhy and Check out his Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Curtiswhy/220620451339905
1 Comment
FanofCurtiswhy1
1/23/2015 02:35:45 am
Great album! I got to meet this guy twice in his stay in Nashville and not only is he an incredible talent but he's also a super cool guy. Tons of talent! Leave a Reply. |