Many bands and singer/songwriters these days are following the path taken by Jeff Tweedy, solo or with Wilco. While most of them are quite enjoyable to listen to, many of them wear their influences too hard on their sleeves. Ok, Marlon Rabenreither or Gold Star is taking this path too. But, then, as exemplified on his second album Big Blue, his seems to be a caliber not only to take his own path but produce music of great value and enjoyment. Tweedy or no Tweedy.
Of course, the Tweedy influence is not the only one present here. But then, Tweedy has influences of his own, and you could say that Gold Star shares them with him: Dylan, Neil Young, Sixties soul, alt-country and quite a few others that need to be dug out, just like, well, gold. One thing though, there is a general feel to the album like it came out of early Seventies LA, event though it came out of 21st century… LA. There is a prevailing sense of gentleness and melancholy, helped along with some quite intricate lyrics too.
I felt sunlight shine right between my eyes/
I’ve seen lightning strikes my whole life/
I felt the stars outside shining in my veins/
I met the big blue light face to face. (Sonny’s Blues)
Whether it is the sound of harmonica (more Young than Dylan), or non-obtrusive washes of pedal steel guitar in the arrangements, Rabenreither’s very soulful voice, or his lyrics, what really dominates Big Blue is his absolute sense of a good melody and ways to put it across to his listeners. The moment first chords are struck in the introductory Come With Me you get immersed in Rabenreither’s musical and lyrical vision and this feeling doesn’t let go until the last chords of the closing The Strangler. A tour from the early morning to deep into the night, I guess. We’’ certainly be hearing more from Mr. Rabenreither and his Gold Star.
