Although he will probably be an unknown quantity to those of you reading this review from the European side of the Atlantic, Texan singer/ songwriter PAUL MINOR has quite a CV and his new album “Shadow Figure” (on the I Eat Records label, also home of Darling New Neighbours and the excellent Brothers & Sisters) is actually his fifth solo release.
And, if this is indicative of the solo furrow he’s been ploughing, I suggest you get our there and do some field work yourself, as this polished, succinct and intelligent album is one of the most consistently enjoyable half hours you’re liable to clap ears upon this year.
There again, if (like me) you tend to adhere to the idea of a singer/ songwriter improving his/ her craft from experience, then it’s no surprise that Paul Minor excels, as he’s sure been through the industry mill in Texas over the past couple of decades. He kicked off gigging in Austin circa 1982 (at the tender age of 16) and has since worked with local heroes such as The Urge, The Wagoneers, Roman Candles, Big Car and Superego. Add to this list, his talents as a producer, promoter, sound man, door man at numerous recommended Austin dives and activity as a spokesman for the SIMS foundation providing health care for lots of Austin-based musicians and you’re flicking through the pages of a diary of man who even makes Sydney’s Mr.Omnipresent, Michael Carpenter, look lazy.
Thankfully, Minor continues to find windows of opportunity to channel all this living into some great tunes. Though not strictly an Alt/Country or Roots performer as such (though there are fine touches of dobro, accordion and ghostly saw and the album concludes with a fine version of Leon Russell’s “Lost Highway” which wouldn’t be out of place on Gram Parsons’ “GP”), Minor is nonetheless a better-than-good singer/ songwriter who can often keep pace with the Lone Star State’s finest.
|
The diversity of Minor’s songs is enough to keep you interested without it all getting too desperately eclectic. The album opens with arguably its’ rockiest moment in “Made To Be Broken”: a tough, witty bar-room rocker with boogie piano, a wonderfully Dylan-esque vocal from Minor and some great, mordant observations such as “St. Peter’s guest list says me minus one, my spirit was made to be broken.” It’s immediately followed by another of the record’s highlights in “Every Star Has A Shadow”: a gentle, wisdom-fuelled folk-pop two step which shows Minor can be every bit as effective when he slows it down a little.
From here on in, Minor and his band prove themselves equally adept whether tackling playful, romantic country-tinged pop (“Tulips Two-Step”), deceptively breezy, Jackson Browne-style outings such as “The Truth Is” and the Costello-ish leanings of “Raincoat Song” where bassist Jeff Johnson even enters with some great, Bruce Thomas-style high end trickery. Hell, they even pull off “Ordinary Gurls” which not only manages to be downbeat and perky all at once, but single-handedly realises the idea of a Texan show tune to boot.
Clocking in at an economic, yet just-right 35 minutes or so, “Shadow Figure” is a must for any fan of intelligent, fad-eschewing music with pithy lyrical insight. This guy’s surname may be Minor, but his talents suggest major artistic developments are within his grasp.
|
