Bart Davenport
is a classic
rock
loving dude. His songs on
Game Preserve
, his second album, are cloaked in the instrumentation and feel of
indie pop
(parping trumpets, layered acoustic guitars, gentle drums), but their heart is in the '70s
singer/songwriter
camp.
"Bar Code Trees"
is pure America with the ringing slide guitar and breathtakingly pure vocal harmonies,
"Euphoria or Everyone on Earth is So Beautiful, Even You"
is a heady mix of
Phil Lynott
and
Van Morrison
with a honking sax,
"Summer in Her Hair"
is
James Taylor
vocals over a beautiful
chamber pop
arrangement,
"When You're Sad"
is a string-based
ballad
that bops like
Gilbert O'Sullivan
at his best,
"Intertwine"
is a semi-funky
CSN
-style tune. Elsewhere,
Davenport
draws inspiration from
Belle & Sebastian
(
"The Saviors"
),
bossa nova
"Sweetest Game"
), and
the Free Design
(a wonderfully rich and true cover of that band's
"My Brother Woody"
). It would be easy having read the last couple sentences to write
off as an imitator, and to a certain extent he is. What makes the record work are
's intimate and tender vocals, his songwriting skills, and the clear, crisp, and warm production of the record.
becomes more of an homage to the era than a blatant ripoff. Even if it was just that, who cares when it sounds this good. ~ Tim Sendra