Guaranteed great stories, great music, great songs.
author: Paul Steinmetz
The album Casual Heroes begins with a song entitled Ain't No Guarantees, but I'll give you a guarantee. If you love great stories, great music, and great songs, you will love this album. This is a songwriter/singer's album with material so beautifully written sung by a voice that correctly interprets the songs. I don't know what label to put on it stylistically, but producers looking for well crafted, appealing songs for their artists would do well to give this album a listen. Several songs would lend themselves to many different interpretations, which is a trait, I think, of good writing. I would compare his storytelling ability to Kris Kristofferson and his evocation of place to Hank Williams, and, yes, my hands tremble as I think about the comparisons I invoke. Then there is the song Pig Meat Rap. It is a story that probably has more truth than most gansta rappers record in a lifetime, and gives meaning to the phrase keeping it real. Oh, by the way, it is also hillarious, with just a touch of pomposity jabbing. This album has become,for me, an unexpected pleasure.
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