The first time I played John Ewbank's "Nails & Crosses" I thought it was a live recording such was the raw sincerity and delivery. It came as a great surprise to me that his name is not a name known all throughout the world, for this album is nothing short of incredible.
Ewbank sings his songs as a man who may know all of life's secrets but his lyrics neither confirm nor dispute this assertion. However, this is an album of stirring lyrical depth. Minimal guitar and sparse keyboard and percussion accompany John's hoarse storytelling but who needs a big band and excessive instrumentation when you have what Ewbank has here?
To outline any one song as outstanding would simply be unfair. From "Howling like a Wolf" straight through to Sex and Drugs and Rotten Johnny", the album needs no song to stand out.
How this album ever managed to slip by the masses is open to speculation. Granted, even on this CD re-release, the sound quality isn't great but that makes no difference. What Ewbank has on this album is something that cannot be bettered or worsened by sound quality - a knack for writing terrific songs.
Available from CD Baby.