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Reviews: Lou Black ~ City of No Winters
Posted on Saturday, January 08, 2005 @ 08:07:27 PST
Topic: Reviews
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Artist: Lou Black
CD: City of No Winters
Home: Arlington, Virginia
Style: Multi-flavored Pop
Quote: "What I really want to know is, who the heck is Dave?"
By Kenny Hart
Lou Black's debut album, City of No Winters, is a quest for what he calls "new pop," which I understand as being blended-style pop music coupled with a message. With most of today's cookie-cutter pop the lyrics are unremarkable; in Black's songs the lyrics stand out - you can't help but pay attention to the message. In our mass-market society, where we are force-fed sameness in everything from our clothes to our food to our mental states, this is a refreshing change. Be they poetic, aesthetic or political, Black's songs, many of them co-written with like-minded poets Richard Hess, Enid Holden and Laura Dean Meek, mean something. This is most evident in the title track, wherein a song about Holden's native South Africa is cleverly disguised as a soft love ballad; "Ode To Backbay," and "The Doctor Won't Help Me" are gems of social commentary.
While much of contemporary pop relies on a simple musical motif overlain with a predictable lyric, Black rebels against this approach and attempts to precisely match the music to both the mood and the message he is trying to communicate. Add to this the latin rhythms sprinkled throughout the catchy, folky feel of many of the melodies, and you have a unique combination. Those familiar with Leonard Cohen's work will hear his influence in Black's style.
Black's PR focuses on the title track, but "Dave Says" has the strongest, most direct message. Perhaps that is why it shows up twice on this record (an unplugged version punctuates the album). Here is the story of a man beaten down by life, who has despaired of ever finding any purpose or happiness in his existence. The haunting, minor motif is a perfect match to the song's gloomy mood. The effect is even more chilling because Black voices sentiments and emotions that each of us experience from time to time. Is this lyric autobiographical? A wake-up call to the world? There is certainly a lesson here, but what I really want to know is, who the heck is Dave?
http://www.loublackmusic.com
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