Musically Dave King is yet another addition to the ever growing American singer/songwriter genre. There are just so many of these artists these days that you just can’t seem to separate talent from wanna-be’s anymore. Luckily I’ve been getting a steady flow of great singer/songwriters lately and Dave King is definitely in that category with his intelligently written lyrics and fragile acoustic folk-rock.

Never have I heard a dude sing about heartbreak and mean it. And then I witnessed the Americana white boy with soul, Dave King. His new album, Shades of Dave, impresses with its surprisingly open and personal approach to songwriting. Like Tom Petty with a little Mighty Mighty Bosstones touch, King relates his lot in love, alluding to dreams of revenge, but somehow remains positive. In addition to pulling off upbeat lucid folk, King invokes spasms of Bob Dylan-style storytelling to surface from the chaos with an astounding album stuffed with potential for success. Somehow this Connecticut boy manages a decent twang, but even without it, the simple clarity of his voice compliments his sound remarkably well. Fluid and carrying a hint of reverb, King just sounds honest, sounds like someone who knows what he’s talking about. He promises he’s falling in love with you, and this may be the first time since the first time you don’t initially scoff at that phrase. Likewise, King’s promise that “We’re Gonna Get Past the Bad Stuff” is worth nearly as much as Bob Marley’s “everything is gonna be alright.” That textured bristly voice has to have been through something, and wielding the power of experience, King strides assuredly in the direction of the future. This one-man wonder not only plays the guitar with notable technical ability, but he also pounds out a few good ones on the keys and doesn’t think twice about tossing in a harmonica or some percussion either. King wails on each with such an intuitive quality, you’d think this album had been recorded live. Northerner he may be, but King’s varied instrumentation lumps a bit of rural urbanism with Louisiana feel-good spirit. His songwriting flows with a lazy, catchy-without-pop-hooks kind of feel, especially “The Cold’ll Kill Ya.” Sadly, all women claim they want a sensitive man, and when they get one they’ll tell you he cries too much. Similarly, King’s passion is inspiring, but occasionally his lyrics drag in the dirt. “The Fog and the Wind and the Rain” reads slightly too sappy, not to mention the rote injections of nature’s elements. But King’s songwriting clearly is not without saving graces. “Nobody Sings To Me” remains a solid piece of songwriting, and let’s not forget those vocals too soon. To behold the northerner-does-folk-well phenomenon, be sure to check this out.

Dave King shares with us his genuine folk rock with poignant lyrics and surprising production. Sure he’s going to be inevitably lumped into the sometimes stagnant singer/songwriter category but I daresay that he will break free of those trappings. I like that he doesn’t rely on studio trickery to encompass a raw sound—instead it comes naturally and makes his acoustic rock style absolutely essential. Thanks Dave King for helping us breathe a fresh new scent of air in acoustic rock.