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Elly Roberts reviews
Messenger Records / Cooking Vinyl
- February 2007
- Rating: 6/10
Its either a burden or blessing.
Being compared to Bob Dylan must have its complications, compensations, orwhatever, but how long can it last? Should he flounder, Dan Bern wouldturn out to be the best Dylan imitator ever.
On a more serious note, it really is quite difficult shrugging off his Dylan ‘sound-alike’ singing-songwriting-harmonica playing.
Nevertheless, this multi-instrumentalist does have something to offer -good songs that stand on their own merit, and all self-penned. With him onthis recording are, Gary Mallaber, Jennifer Condos, Eben Grace, Ryan Freeland,Sally Dworsky, Greg Prestopino, Renee Stahl, C.C.White and Chuck Plotkin asmusician/producer, a sometime Springsteen producer. So its a big band, withgreat names.
With supreme confidence, Bern truly captures Dylans spirit as well, thoughhis true poetic credentials are yet to surface. Nevertheless, this delightfulalbum is a pleasure from start to finish. Trudy neatly ambles in a predictable(Dylan) plod, complete with nasal vocals.
Title track Breathe is in a similar mould. Things go up-beat on FeelLike A Man, a gentle shuffle as Bern delves into some impassioned singingwith (obligatory) bursts of harmonica. Cooling-off awhile, the beautiful balladRemember Me brings a new vocal style, in a warbling Elvis Costellokind of way, which turns out to be the jewel in the crown.
Back to template, a mid-tempo Suicide Room is a Bob from the ’70s. Thepace drops again on the wistful Tongue Tied, a song John Lennon wouldbe proud of, with Bern stretching his singing to new heights. Thrusting Rainis a Costello-Beatles like radio-friendly ditty.
Drifting is Berns forte, so it comes as no surprise that Visit In My Dreamsis just that, though it becomes a tad limp at just under 4 minutes. Longestsong of the bunch Past Belief (8 mins 14 secs) is a mini-opus worthyof critical acclaim, where he subliminally, does an uncanny take on Mike Scottof The Waterboys. Finally, Another Mans Clothes is, well, Costellomeets, you guessed it, Dylan.
This is Dan Berns sixth solo album, so lets hope he fairs better this timearound. Dont hold the Dylan et al comparisons against him, because in itsown right this is a little gem, even if Bob is looking over his shoulder.
To promote the album, Dan will be performing a one-off solo gig at theBorderline on Tuesday 6 March.
Weblink:danbern.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Trudy
2. Breathe
3. Feel Like A Man
4. Remember Me
5. Suicide Room
6. Tongue-Tied
7. Rain
8. Visit In My Dream
9. Past Belief
10. Another Mans Clothes
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.