Album Notes

"Nathaniel Maloney never ceases to follow his heart -- even when it leads him off
a cliff. The Burton native sings of glowing campfires and fields covered with
dew so sweetly that Old Empty Farmhouse occasionally feels syrupy enough to
soak your Eggos. "We need to share with each other/We need to help one
another/Lend a hand to your fellow brother/And things will turn out right," he
sings with impenetrable optimism on "Keep Hope Alive."


Still, Farmhouse works primarily because Maloney's voice is as moving as all the
sunsets he keeps singing about. Though he's frequently compared to James Taylor,
Maloney also borrows a page from ace storyteller Jim Croce on sparse, acoustic
yarns like "Time." Backed by fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, Maloney's rural folk
feels like driving through the countryside with the windows down. It's an album
so woodsy and rustic, you can damn near hear the crickets chirping. Jason Bracelin - Cleveland Scene Magazine (Apr 15, 2005).

""Lazy Summer Night" opens this Old Empty Farmhouse with some fine, fine banjo pickin' by Dan Garrett. On the next cut, "Keep Hope Alive" offers spiffy guitar playing by Nathaniel Maloney. There's a slight bluegrass flavour in that first cut, too.

The picking/music is just as much a feature of the whole CD as the songwriting and vocals are. On the first six cuts, the two features blend and take turns on the front stage in each song in a way that makes it feel as if you're listening to an old-time concert.

"Old Empty Farmhouse" sounds a lot like John Prine, and that's certainly not bad but the lyrics and the voice of Nathaniel in this song are richer, smoother, easier than I remember Prine being. Every song on this CD is written by Maloney, and what he's done is creatively sculpt songs with voice and guitar. There are edges and valleys, and curves where light reflects and shadows fall in every song.

"Ocean Sunsets" picks up the pace with guitar (Maloney), dobro (Brian Arnold) and flute (Robert Carothers). Actually, it's a pretty mellow pace. Like the end of an evening on the beach or a solitary time strolling along the strand. In "Mohican River Valley" the artist sings about memories, with soft strumming and a wistful voice that draws you inside the song.

"Going Downstream" is the only instrumental track. The first six tracks have accompanists to every song, and the last three are solely Nathaniel and his guitar. The last three feel like he's giving you a private audience.

Slow songs, easy listening and folk dirges can often slow the spirit if they're not done well, but I feel there's not a boring spot or a serious misstep on this CD. I can listen to it again and again, and Maloney deserves a listen for the songwriting strength on this CD, smooth vocals and pleasing but interesting musical arrangements."

by Virginia MacIsaac
Rambles.NET
13 January 2007