Billy Reeves would seem to be a distinctly prolific songwriter and, indeed, one who has a somewhat skewed outlook in life to accompany the eleven months matured quirkiness that usually pervades his words and music. What, therefore, is to be made of his album ”PostWar”?
Well, that is indeed a good question. This time around, Billy Reeves has taken a more serious approach to his songs with his trademark playfulness being replaced, for the most part, with a more reflective style, He has, fortunately, the skill to pull this off whilst stoically staying just above the abyss of eternity that awaits us all yet, with that said, he can still pull something spiritually uplifting out of his hat such as the delicately seasoned “Christmas Is Cold” and the enigmatic “The End Of Loneliness” whilst that playfulness that is so beloved of those who, like me, appreciate the ways of the eccentric can still be found in the almost embarrassingly commercial “Want It?” that features The Bluebells. Those Bluebells? Indeed, it is them. I can almost smell the formaldehyde from here.
Whilst “PostWar” has been injected with a full dose of seriousness, the result is far from downbeat and Billy Reeves remains a potential cure for many of your less common musical ills.