Quickly or slowly, loudly or quietly, Massachusetts-born songsmith Noam Weinstein is making a name for himself. Having spent a good part of the last decade honing his skills in New York, it seems that his music is finally getting the far-spread recognition that it deserves. “Found Alive” captures Weinstein and his band playing live at the Living Room in NYC. Rather makes you wish you were there.
Recorded over a three-day period, this album showcases fifteen songs from Weinstein’s repertoire, which is as much varied as it is extensive. Beginning on “Too Small”, a searching acoustic affair, it quickly becomes apparent that you really must pay attention to Weinstein’s lyrics. Switch off for a second and you’re losing out. Indeed, this proves to be the case throughout the album.
“Planet” and “Pushing Sixty” take the aforementioned a bit further, with Weinstein’s vocal delivery adding further emotion and humour to the proceedings while “Some Escape” brings the band into full swing. A ridiculous, joyous romp; I’ll bet this one got people on their feet.
There’s even room for a little tenderness on “Not on the Lips”, which is quickly - and wonderfully - contradicted by “Have to Charge You”, a pseudo-big band effort showing a complete change of lyrical and musical tact. Hell, there’s even a sing-a-long on “When I Get My”, the story of a loser who knows how he’s going to toast to his successes without knowing how he’s going to achieve them. We’re all guilty of this, right?
Singer-songwriters are often, correctly, chastised for their lack of creativity or originality. Noam Weinstein, on the other hand, need answer to no one. At times evoking thoughts of the late Warren Zevon, “Found Alive” is a potent threat from an artist who is surely ready to explode into another echelon of fame. Fantastic.