Five Fabulously Talented Singer Songwriters
The task of the songwriter is complex; take an emotion or moment and capture it in song. Make sure that the mood of the music matches the feeling of the message. Also, it can’t be too cheesy or people won’t like it. It can’t be too dark, too melancholy, too happy, too abstract, or too poppy. It has to capture authenticity, yet feel relatable to anyone who listens. Oh and if you want to make a career of it, you need half a million people to spin it and a bunch of them to buy it. Whew. What a life! But these five folks are fabulously talented, capturing some of those “just right” song moments and sharing their hearts with us, the listening public. Listen and enjoy. If you’re so inclined, share them with your friends.
Christopher Watson – Part of a Man
-Christopher Watson has a light touch on his acoustic guitar and an exquisite delivery in his vocals. You can hear a sense of confidence in his songwriting. It’s the sort of folk-inspired songwriting that brings hope with each tenderly delivered line. Even his harmonica skills are solid. The album has elements of blues, pop, and folk throughout. All told, it’s a nice album for a coffeeshop playlist or reflecting on that special someone in your life.
We/Or/Me – Everything Behind Us Is a Dream
-We/Or/Me is a folk act in a truly elite class. From eloquent fingerpicking to subtle, satsifying harmonies, We/Or/Me can do it all. From the narrative opener “The Dusty Roads” to the relaxing and introspective finale, “Slow Dance Dream,” this is an album to bring down your heart rate and get you thinking. The images are rich, the harmonies comforting, and the melodies are absolutely bucolic. This is the kind of album that defines why I consider myself a fan of folk music; it’s artful and classic, while remaining fresh and engaging at every turn.
Evan Jeffrey – Stay Running
-From the first time I pressed play on Evan Jeffrey’s music I thought about James Taylor. He sometimes can even sound like someone like James Morrison. But he’s got a real bluesy swagger to his acoustic singer songwriter vibe. Both “Cat’s Cradle” and “Cold Feet” have a nice blues swing to them. The title track “Stay Running” feels a bit more free form, like something you’d hear a busker play; I mean that as a compliment, though, because it’s neatly phrased and tells a story of perseverance in the midst of trial. Jeffrey is a legit songwriter and storyteller.
Joseph Ruddleston – Midas Rise
-If you like acoustic guitar, you need to just settle right in with this Joseph Ruddleston album and indulge. He is about as talented as anyone we’ve ever covered when it comes to pure guitar and songwriting work. The songs on this album remind me of Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale before they formed the Milk Carton Kids. Somewhat ironically my favorite on the album is probably “My Friend What I Owe You,” which is not even a guitar track, but the chord progressions and the melody on the piano make my heart smile. Give the whole album a spin; there’s much to like on this one.
Roch Albert – Someday
-When you’ve written an album full of originals and one cover of a John Prine tune, color me interested. To make it even better, Roch Albert is a talented songwriter in his own right. A little alt country when you boil it down, Albert tells some dark tales with characteristic minor chords. If you only have time for one, give “One More Day” a spin. The folk blues tune will make a fan out of you quick. The rest of the album features some of the same sort of colorful wrinkles, idiosyncratic vocals, and intriguing lyrics.
