With the myriad jobbing bands and songwriters out there, how does one dive in and then bob to the surface of media attention and possible stardom (or at least a fair degree of recognition)? Well lobbing review copies to the likes of the denizens of Bluesbunny Towers is one way. But even then, stacked up in a pile of CDs sitting next to the carrot juice and organic potato crisps, how does an album stand up and say play me, play me?
Quality, that's what counts. Define it? No way. An album can be played once and cast aside, others will nag and beg for a second or third listen until the penny drops and we connect, four carrots and a rave review. Canadian Markus almost fell into the first category but has managed to stick his head above the parapet for closer scrutiny, mainly due to the Leonard Cohenisms of the fourth track here, "What's On Your Mind Babe." I kept going back to this song and eventually grew to like (not love) the rest of the album.
With a blustery opener, "Rosa", which is far too busy for its own good the album almost sets itself up to fail. However the rest of the album ditches the wah wah guitar and settles into a more laid-back singer/songwriter groove for the most part. When the band rock out again (as on "Deeper Well") it's a much simpler slide driven boogie with nods to Dylan rockin down Highway 61.
Overall however there is a sense of a one trick pony here, nice voice, talented musicians (and there is a cast of thousands playing here) and a talented writer who just doesn't manage to deliver the killer punch that would save the album from eventually being placed back into that pile that says could do better.
Available from CD Baby.