Other Reviews

06/02/2009

Whisky Hearts

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Dean Owens

Dean's an Edinburgh man but recorded 'Whisky Hearts' in Nashville with a very hot cast of stars from the world of Americana. However, I was caught off guard not knowing this. All I was thinking, from first listen, was Teenage Fanclub, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, The Verve with a Celtic twist. Basically, this is some of the best anthemic yet tender songwriting I have heard for a long while.

After two well received solo albums, recorded with Scottish musicians, Dean wanted a different angle and headed for the home of country music where he'd - 'always met really interesting people' who 'kept turning up at the studio and doing something really magical.' We're talking pedal steel legend and former Gram Parsons cohort Al Perkins, guitar ace Will Kimbrough, Mavericks drummer Paul Deakin, ex-Jayhawk Jen Gunderman, singer-songwriter Thad Cockrell. The sort of people you give a warm welcome to if they pop by. Along with his hometown bassist Kevin McGuire, the scene was set.

Stylistically the album jumps from good time rock 'n' roll to emotive introspection with Dean's voice upfront giving away his innermost thoughts. Production was handled by Dean and Elijah (Lij) Shaw and it certainly has those 'wind in your hair' Springsteen moments. This probably stems from his wish for - 'something you'd put on in the car.' The opener 'Sand In My Shoes' ticks the box, so does 'Hallelujah,' oozing bar room atmosphere and guitarslinger chops to relish.

During 'Raining In Glasgow' you can feel the ache in a Scotsman heart for his country - 'I bet it's raining in Glasgow, down here in the south the sun's about to set, but tonight, I wouldn't mind getting wet.' Equally moving is his struggle to understand his relationship with his father in 'Man From Leith,' a track that can stand shoulder to shoulder with Martin Simpson's 'Never Any Good.'

Although it's touchingly confessional, there's a big city feel to these small town stories. The universal themes and less-is-more word play can't fail to strike a chord with anyone who has a pulse.  

Dave Kushar

DEAN'S SITE