NEW MUSIC
SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman
CITIZENS! SAM ASHWORTH Fear Songs of My Father (EP) The quintet formerly known as Citizens and After toiling for years in relative obscurity, Sam here operates on the “keep it simple” rule,
Saints soars higher and further on their fourth Ashworth is starting to see success to match with acoustic guitar lightly augmented by
album of anthemic modern rock. The vocal the quality of his work. He and his wife Ruby more synthetic sounds. Ellie Schmidly adds
comparisons to Bono remain – not in a bad Amanfu co-wrote nine songs on H.E.R.’s “I sweet vocals to the EP opener “Love is Like
way – with an indie pop sound recalling Irish Used to Know Her” R&B project, which is up a Compass,” which describes the forces that
collective Two Door Cinema Club. Horns are still for album, song, and record of the year at the keep us on the straight path. A string quartet
in the mix, abetting driving rhythms on songs 2020 Grammy Awards. Ashworth and Amanfu sweetens “Make the Light Brighter” and its
like “Everything for Nothing.” Album highlight recently contributed whimsical “oohs” to the declaration that “you take love into places
“Out of Sight” rides a fat synth intro into a driving “Drinking from the Wordless Well” project by needy, broken, and graceless.” Other tracks
eighth note bass guitar rhythm augmented his father Charlie Peacock, as well as work feature light steel guitar with a dreamy overall
alternately by arpegiatting piano and clean on the recent singer/songwriter effort “Mr.” by effect recalling Ashworth’s favorite works of the
electric guitar. Each song gets its own distinct “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom, Jr. All this plus past such as Nick Drake’s “Five Leaves Left.”
sonic fingerprint, from the minimalist backing an album of Ashworth’s own. In what sense Closer “Something So Good” heads a different
and impassioned vocal on “Illusion” to the pop is “Songs of My Father” related to the work direction with jaunty programmed loops over a
groove of “Looking Up” and the tom-driven of Charlie Peacock? Certainly, Ashworth’s summery lyric.
“Past.” Christian references are muted overall voice remains an eerie dead ringer for his compared to 2016’s “A Mirror Dimly” album, in father’s smooth, smokey-esque croon. Unlike favor of confessional sentiments. his mainstream work, Ashworth’s production
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December 2019
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