Stephen Grimstead, Editor
Patrick Dodd - Several Seasons (Rockingchair)
PATRICK DODD IS A YOUNG LOCAL artist who has recently
released his debut CD, Several Seasons, recorded here in Memphis
at Rockingchair Studios and marketed on Rockingchair's new(ish) label.
It's truly difficult to connect the cover shot of the baby-faced teenager in lovebeads standing at the edge of a bayou with the voice that emanates from this disc. It's a rich, mature vehicle that imparts a bluesy sheen to everything it touches here whether it's the rock, folk, or jazzy grooves that grace these original tunes and it sounds like it's been cured well beyond Dodd's 19 years. Apart from his amazing vocals, Dodd also has a strong sense of melody and this release contains some solid compositions that show a surprising complexity for a writer of his age.
The title cut is a bluesy rocker that floats along effortlessly, and the opening track is a mesmerizing ballad that instantly pulls the listener in. (On a single down note, the lyrics are about what you'd expect from a sensitive teenager, basically a random hodgepodge of thoughts and feelings about identity and relationships, though some little poetic snippets pop up here and there that hopefully signal some better things to come.)
Production is spartan and the tone of the CD is fairly quiet and introspective. For the most part this works well, but the more embellished tracks like the jazzy maelstrom of the exhilarating "Stay Still" show hints of Dodd's potential as a songwriter and a performer. Mo Engstrom provides some intriguing vocal sparring and harmonies on this and other tracks, and the delicacy of her singing perfectly complements the grit of Dodd's vocals. The pair especially shines on one of the highlights of this release, "The Wino." This track written from the perspective of a homeless man has lyrics that might have sounded maudlin in a lesser vocalist's hands, but Dodd imbues the man's story with such pathos and longing that it sends shivers up your spine.
Dodd also shows that he has the chops to tackle traditional blues in his song "Broken Bed," inspired by Blind Willie McTell. For my part, I would like to hear him wrap his old soul's voice around the actual work of the masters, something really raw and ancient, like Leadbelly or Blind Lemon. Not to disparage his originals, which show a lot of promise, but I think that some well-chosen covers would have rounded this CD out nicely, and this might be something for him to consider on his next venture. Nevertheless, I regard Several Seasons as a powerful beginning from a young native son. Lisa Lumb
Pezz and 2-Line Filler - The Bittersweet Series, Volume 3 (Bittersweet)
THIS LATEST TWO-DISC PACKAGE from New York's Bittersweet label brings together a pair of discs by two punky pop bands (or poppy punk bands, as the case may be) Toronto's 2-Line Filler and Memphis' own Pezz.
Pezz have been making the scene here in Memphis for a while now, with a couple of singles, appearances on several compilations, and the self-released full-lengther Livin' The Life of Riley under their belts. Here, they contribute six tight tracks pitched slightly to the punk side of the punk pop formula. Which is to say, they stand squarely in that mystical Orange County of the mind where you never grow old, you just get signed to Epitaph.
Fortunately, since they've been at it since 1989, they have grown up and it shows. Within the genre, their songs are top shelf, preserving the power and sneers without losing the melodies that make you walk around with a song for a day or two. "Trash" (not the New York Dolls ditty of the same name) is a standout on the catchiness scale, as is "Hey Man," which has the added virtue of being clever. With a chorus that refers to the Godfather's advice about keeping your enemies close, you can well imagine the punch that's kicked into the line "And I've never felt closer to you." Bad Religion would have said it if they'd only thought of it.
2-Line Filler, for their part, clock in closer to the straight pop side of things. With an airiness approaching XTC's, they rock, but not too hard, devoting their efforts more to finesse than to force. They still get their licks in, however, on tracks like "Fate Is" and "I'm Just Fine."
And by the way if all of this sounds like a winning combo to you, you had better snatch up your copy while they're still hot. Word is Bittersweet Records is being closed down by its parent company, making the future distribution of this set uncertain. Jim Hanas