These days it ahem there is a proliferation of singer/songwriters inspired by a similar generation from the Seventies. Like then, today’s batch can be divided into two general, but distinct categories. The first one would be mushy, ‘single melody’ type with ‘navel gazing’ lyrics of the ‘my pain is everybody’s pain” kind, and nothing really special in their voices.
The other, actually relevant group had either distinct voices and melodies, created an atmosphere with their music and had something to say that more than three people could relate to.
There’s really no big difference these days from those Seventies characteristics. The only problem is that now, so much more music can reach your ears that it seems that the mundane group dominates. That is if you are unlucky in your listening choices.
But if you have a bit more luck, you could run into the Australian singer/songwriter Stu Larsen and his second studio album /Resolute/. Judging by this outing, he definitely belongs to that second, relevant group that has something meaningful to say and knows how to say it through music.
If you’re asking yourself whether Larsen is inspired by some stalwart names from the past, don’t, He certainly is. Listening to this album, quite a few of those names come to mind - Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Neil young, but one particularly comes to mind, and that is James Taylor.
Once the acoustic guitar and Larsen’s distinctive singing voice start in the opening track “airplanes”, with the line: “You said we will meet in Amsterdam/ is that still the plan?”, you get the impression that, as far as the musical travels are concerned, Larsen knows exactly where he’s going and how to get there. Yet another similarity with Taylor.
Now, coming and going, or to be precise, traveling seem to be one of the recurring themes I’m Larsen’s music, and that is no wonder. He seems to be a well-travelled guy who has seen a lot of the world.
But the main thing is that he seems to be quite down to earth person, with a realistic view of things and people around him, one of those things that will definitely make the music like this actually work.
Larsen’s album /Resolute/ does work and Larsen himself sounds like somebody who is resolute to keep the crap in his music at minimal levels.
James Taylor was much maligned after his Seventies heyday for no other apparent reason than that his and the music of other singer/songwriters’ music went temporarily out of style. Hopefully, Larsen will be awarded a few shortcuts to more recognition. He deserves them.
