It doesn’t get much more DIY than building your own instruments – but to state that to some is to state the bleeding obvious. Having cut his teeth as a founding member of the Boulder Acoustic Society, Aaron Keim has since become known as The Quiet American. Intent on finding middle ground between the music of old America and contemporary folk, Keim’s music is spiritually rich and none too bad besides. In fact, it’s pretty darn good.
From the get-go, Keim’s sound paints the image of a road weary traveller - one who has been travelling for decades instead of days. Every traditional song on record could’ve been learned in his travels with the self-penned efforts being the product of hard-earned experience. For instance, the backwards-looking “Whisky Johnny” laments the demise of a drink-afflicted gentleman. One can almost taste the poison.
What really stands out about “Vol. II” is Keim’s effulgent approach to storytelling. “Break The Hold” and “Talk is Cheap” could have been written in different states – in every sense. Keim doesn’t always claim to have all the answers, but one should listen attentively anyway.
Towards the end, the songs veer towards instrumentation in focus, and positively so. Some pleasant banjo uke playing is heard on “Wandering Boy”, while the similarly traditional “Black Jack Daisy” ends the album with a little folk-noir.
In this release, Aaron Keim has captured a musical equivalent to an acclaimed period drama. Credit must be given to Keim not only for attention to lyrical detail but also for not being wasteful with music. Every note and word on this album seems to serve a purpose. Can you ask for much more?
Available from CD Baby.