CD
Review –
“Shadows of Life” – Lee Brown
Independent
CD release
Recorded
by Jacques Cohen at The Space Studio, Poughkeepsie, NY
I
think it’s fitting that my first “Fascinations” blog post is a review of Hudson
Valley singer/songwriter musician Lee Brown’s recent CD release, “Shadows of
Life.” The first review that I wrote and got published was of the first album
by Lee’s former band, Patterns of Grace, in the now-defunct local entertainment
publication, Free Time, in 1995. So
it’s almost like a full-circle.
Full
Disclosure – I must admit that it’s kind of hard to be completely objective in
reviewing Lee’s music. I’ve known Lee for about twenty years, and he’s one of
my favorite people and musicians in the area. I’ve followed his music from his
various incarnations of Patterns of Grace, through his solo work and his many
performances at his recently-closed Cubbyhole Coffeehouse in Poughkeepsie. But
even if he wasn’t a friend, I would be fascinated by the music and lyrics of
his melodic and thought-provoking folk/blues songs.
The
fifteen tracks were recorded over the past few years by Jacques Cohen (who
recently passed away) at his Space Studio in Poughkeepsie. Jacques was a talented
and accomplished recording engineer who recorded and produced many musicians
and bands in the Hudson Valley region, and he had worked for many years with
Lee, recording and producing Patterns of Grace’s work as well as Lee’s solo
work.
Sadly,
Jacques died before a final cut of “Shadows of Life” could be produced, but I
think that the CD, as it is, sounds great. Jacques knew Lee and his music very
well, and he really captured the richness and range of Lee’s voice, and the
bright tone and rhythmic style of his acoustic guitar playing in a well-balanced mix. Hudson Valley
musician Todd Giudice, who has played with Lee many times in past years, gave
solid support on guitar, slide guitar and backing vocals. Violinist Sue Buzzard
added a nice warmth to several of Lee’s acoustic arrangements, and Leah Wilkes’
back-up vocals blended harmoniously with Lee’s voice on two tracks, “Broken”
and “Angels from Heaven.”
The
CD opens with a slide guitar blues sound, which is effective on “Crazy Sunny
Sunday Morning,” with its surreal imagery and pointed commentary on religion;
and the rollicking, wry humor of an egotistical womanizer’s comeuppance in “King
of the Clothes," with lyrics such as, "This morning, lawd, I woke up in a stranger's room/ Man, if I find that woman I swear that her life will be through/ I'm known as King of the Clothes/ And man, this morning they even took my shoes."
“All
Day in Bed” is a playful and sensual love song that stands in contrast to other
tracks about disappointment and turbulence of relationships. The beautifully
melodic arrangements of “Cry,” “Haunt” and “Illusion of the World” belie the
bitter/sweet lyrics of love gone wrong. And “Another Chance” uses the metaphor
of gambling and a tense guitar line to illustrate the uncertainty in a
relationship: “Wagering time and life/ Watching my bets grow slowly smaller…”
Though
most of the tracks can be described as folk songs, two of the songs are
actually named as “Folk Song” in their titles – “Folk Song #3” with lyrics that
hold a mirror up so the listener can’t help but see his/her own reflection: “So
if you hear my screams/ Listen to the words/ They might pertain to you/ And
warn you of the pain I feel… again” and “Folk Song #1 (Bob Dylan Was Dead),”
which imagines that news stories of domestic violence, social unrest and
political upheaval in the world would be eclipsed by the possible death of Bob
Dylan, but ends with a mellow, hopeful coda: “This is for all my brothers and my
sisters/ The ones who try to light a candle in this darkness in the night…”
Lee
uses his background as a political and social activist to write intelligent and
complex songs that illuminate the dark corners of the world and expose
situations such as a warlord’s brutality in “Angels From Heaven,” and a
politician’s corruptness in “Gangster.” “Alice and Jerry” is a deceptively
simple song, using lyrics reminiscent of a reading primer within a lullaby
arrangement to tell the all-too-common story of physical and emotional abuse in
a relationship: “See Alice. See Alice run. See Jerry. See Jerry chase her down.
Deliver the blows that will scar her for life…” These songs challenge the
listener to pay attention to the message of the lyrics and then do something
about it. And many listeners have paid attention – the patrons of the Cubbyhole’s
Stop Violence Against Women fundraisers gave donations to benefit the battered
women’s shelters in the Hudson Valley area.
Several
of the tracks, such as “Gangster,” “Cry,” and “Haunt,” had been previously
recorded with Patterns of Grace. But Lee’s songwriting voice and musical skills
are so strong that they stand out even more in his solo arrangements. His songs
connect directly with the listener and their impact remains with repeated
plays.
The
CD is packaged with an artful cover – a photograph taken through the window of
the Cubbyhole by local photographer Drie Lodato. It’s $10.00, and currently, it
can be purchased by emailing Lee Brown at minimalblu@hotmail.com, or contacting
him through his Facebook page.
“Shadows
of Life” has been in heavy rotation in my stereo since I got it last week, and
I plan to add its tracks to an MP3 player, where it will be in great company
among some of the best singer/songwriter musicians, past and present – Lee Brown is
truly that good.
