Review by Madison Songwriters Group

Ervin Allen - Moon and Stars

Beaches, vacations, parties, booze and wild women are all over Ervin Allen's debut album. Moon and Stars is a summery mix of Americana, rock and rhythmic pop with a definite focus on simple pleasure.

Allen cites Roy Orbison as an early influence, and it's apparent in his vocal style, which uses a powerful upper range to good effect. This works especially well on the one cover song here, Sara Pace's "Whiskey" (one of a handful of serious songs on the record.) Where Pace's recording took an uptempo approach and understated the vocal, Allen does a slow build to a heartbreaking, high-pitched conclusion. Allen's falsetto also adds a touch of 1950s style to hook-laden numbers like  "Not Like Me" and "What Do You Do?"

At the opposite end of Allen's range is CD's opening track, "I Never Saw Her Face," a rocker about a mysterious one-night stand. Set to pounding drums and wailing guitar licks, the vocal is low and full of bluesy undertones. It's a bold choice for an opener, but somewhat deceptive, as it's one of only two tracks in this style on Moon and Stars.

More typical is the title song, a country-folk love story set on a beach.  Gently romantic and a little silly, the song juxtaposes lines about a cosmic union with exchanges about the lovers' astrological signs. The sweet, plain delivery is just right.

I liked the humor and energy of "I Need a Vacation", which fantasizes about beaches and "the perfect hotel where ... I can fall from my barstool into bed." The tropical rhythms, lilting lead guitar part and light backing vocals give the song polish and movement. This has a great sound for the radio, although some of the lyrics may be too risque for some markets. It sounds like it would be a popular performance number, also.  I would be remiss if I did not mention that "What Do You Do?" features the best kazoo solo I've ever heard on a recording. The choice of instruments perfectly fits the DIY ethos of the song, which answers the question thus: "It's up to you."

Allen shows a more serious side on "Have You Kissed Your Children Today?"  The country song has an old-time feel, with ingenuous lyrics and spoken verses about the "love so hard to share" between children and parents.  It works well on its own terms, and as an interesting contrast to the other songs on Moon and Stars.

A few things didn't work for me. There were too many breakup/betrayal songs for my taste, the enjoyable "Not Like Me" notwithstanding. The Vietnam War references feel out of place in the bouncy "Mad City." "The Other Side of Blue" sounds a bit rushed. But Allen and co-producer Andy LaValley (of StoneFloat Records) get most things right. Moon and Stars is a promising debut that should catch the attention of listeners across several genres.

The CD is packaged beautifully, with artwork that mixes wood grains and night skies.

The supporting musicians on this record were Bear LaValley on bass, Hugo Reynolds on drums, KC McCrum on lead guitar, and Tate McLane on harmony backup vocals and kazoo.
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I get a kick out of the vintage Strawberry Alarm Clock meets Buffalo Springfield lead guitar playing almost as much as I dig the vibe and vigor of the lead vocals, but most of all, the depth of the songwriting displays a mature and awesome talent!
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