March, 2006

DAVE MASWICK
All The Lies Of Spain
Available at: www.cdbaby.com, website: www.davemaswick.com

An unusually high voice. Country? Bluegrass? The opening number "Nothin' She Can Do" rather reminds me of Soul. But the music is good, though, the pitch unusual. "Be the One", the next number, is catchy. Beautifully done, gentle. What strike me the most are the drums that are very much held back. Beautiful also the guitar and the sparingly incorporated steel guitar.

A great love song dedicated to that someone that is still waiting, somewhere out there, "This Lover's Game" sounds somewhat Mexican. The melodies are breath taking and here again is the guitar brought out by the singing - can it get any more beautiful?

"Lucky Day" rocks. And how!!! Bluegrass? Hmmm......but I don't have anything against such an alternative really. Here again, a slight South American touch. "All The Lies of Spain" is boring. What a shame. I would have accepted the piece if it was by Eva Cassidy. Where¹s that Spain? "When My Baby Come Home" ­ here rocks the fiddleŠ and not just the fiddle. Incorporating an accordion, the number would have turned out nicely Cajun. Yet like that it's a pleasant piece also. "Norveline" continues to rock where the previous song ended rocking. But now Dave reminds me of Tritt a little. Does he need that? Hopefully not. The song is good, however certainly more commercial than "When My Baby Come Home. Rock 'n Roll for beginners, so to say. "The Language" is somewhat esoterical. Kind of snatchy, even the guitar. The percussions remind one of, well, of what? Many Pop-names come up. No need for that, really. "From Now On" is progressive Bluegrass or something? Or what? Wrong. It's a blend, and because of the percussion a pleasing one. Good when driving. A rebel piece. From now on, everything's going to change, right? "A Thousand Nights of Rain" reminds of Chris Isaak. Just the guitar. But then the organ!!! - Pop, definitely.

Dave Maswick either wrote the songs himself or co-wrote them. The CD Baby website says that Dave is a trained classical musician and that he once graduated from the famous Crane School of Music.

To sum it up, I have to say, a good CD. The voice matches the songs. A hint of bluegrass but that doesn't matter much. The artist is very original - just like his website.