The entire album is marked by the subtle changes and variety between songs, woven together to provide a continuous flow of wistful optimism. The last song, "Home," closes the album with a short note of blissful happiness, fitting for a compilation dedicated to Smith's wife, Shelley.
The album was recorded in Drew Smith's hometown of Austin, Texas, a town steeped in an Americana vibe. Although many of Austin's finest musicians with that rockin' country sound contribute (including Kim Deschamps on pedal steel, Warren Hood on fiddle, and Dustin Welch on banjo and resonator guitar) this album does not share the twangy rockabilly sound of many Austin recordings. Fans of Chuck Prophet, Coldplay or Oasis might find Drew Smith's album resonates for them.
Production values are consistently high throughout the album. It sounds as though great care was taken at every stage of production, from arranging to recording and creating the final mix and packaging. Barrett Walton at Infinity Recording Studios recorded the songs to tape to create a rich analog sound. The cover art and cleverly-designed fold-out with all the song lyrics feature Dave Schwab's pen and ink drawings.
Drew Smith's Lonely Choir is an engaging album, one that you can sit and listen to (not just play as a background), like the characters in the opening track do with the 1970s album Nilsson Sings Newman. It is an album about being blessed with friendship even while it acknowledges the roads we travel are not always sunny. Whether this album becomes an instant hit or a quiet classic, Drew Smith and his collaborator Matt Russell have created a powerful new entry in pop music.
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