Monday, February 2, 2009

You Crazy Dreamers

You Crazy Dreamers

Why didn’t I know…Andy Wagner?

Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:06 AM CST


I have to honestly say that I didn’t know Andy Wagner before the good folks at Rock Proper introduced me to this Chicago troubadour.  He already has two albums and has transitioned from Chicago to New Orleans and back again.  Now settled back in Chicago, he is looking forward to his new album set to be released in February.

The new album, “Those Who Forgive”, will be released via Rock Proper on Monday, February 23rd and from having been listening for a couple of weeks already, this is a great late night experience.  I say this as there is a bit of an intro on his website that just might make you think the same thing:

The sheets are crumpled at the foot of the bed and the blinds and orange dawnlight draw telephone lines across her sleeping face. Don't worry darling, that was only a crow call. Don't worry dear, this is only a love song. Chicago's Andy Wagner writes, performs, sings and records dust and smoke and morning songs to wake to, unashamed.

Don’t let his good looks fool you (yes, I said it), this guy has chops.  There is grit that one might not immediately perceive from his made for TV leading man jawline.  There is a bit of saloon influenced Alt-Country mixed in with this Louisiana guitar slinger at heart.  You will find the toned down rocker follow up a more up-tempo song with a pained rendition of lost love - with an almost Calexico feel (you might hear it in “Nothing to Defend” below).

The new album I feel is outright darker, at least by listening and taking it at face value.  It has a slower cadence, a touch more production value and has the ache of harmonica (absolutely love the harmonica on “My Blue Sea”).  His vocal delivery basically solidifies it for me.  He has Sunday morning after a rough night drawl.  This is like the good Ryan Adams stuff, if I dare say, as it has the solo and band backed tracks to fill out the full package. Click on the album image below to visit his Rock Proper page, bookmark it, return on Feb. 23rd for a free download of the entire album.

Take a few older tracks, some newer and some fresh from the recording boards of Jay Bennett's Pieholden Suite Sound studio in downstate Illinois.  Don’t be shy and visit him on his Website or his MySpace page.

~Smansmith

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