What he has produced on this wonderful debut are finely crafted, soulfully executed, songs that burst at the seams with humanity. Honest and clear-eyed, Aaron has looked at the world around him and found what he considers beautiful, what he considers tawdry, and brought both to life in music.
Musically this album has the vitality of early punk, but instead of the musical mayhem associated with that genre, the energy has been given focus and intent. Its most obvious expression comes in the urgency and depth of emotion that can be heard in his voice on each song. Words pour out of his mouth like they are hot coals that have been born in the furnace of his soul.
At times his passion makes the words nigh on incomprehensible as they pile drive their way into your heart, but sometimes the mere sound words make have more meaning then if they were comprehended intellectually. Like tone poetry, the sound of his voice mixed with guitar communicates far more coherently then any so-called love song rendered by some pop Diva yearning for her true love.
Aaron is more than just master of the frenetic — he also shows himself capable of wonderful tenderness. "She Is Waking" is one of the realest songs I've heard about waking up in bed next to someone. There's a vulnerability in his voice that lets you understand just how rare and precious a moment like that can and should be. That same quality also lets you hear what could be his insecurity about what might or could happen in the days to come
The types of songs that Aaron has written for this album are some of the most difficult to pull off without coming across as being either self-pitying or a navel gazer. Far too many singers (and writers) think of introspection as a means for manipulating the audience instead of simply passing along ideas.
Article comments