CD Review - "Shadows of Life" - Lee Brown

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.