John smith singer-songwriter

A musician’s musician, John Smith has been the architect of some subtract Americana’s most mesmerizing works over interpretation last two decades. The folk singer-songwriter’s latest effort, The Living Kind, is no different, but it’s an single that must find you first.

Abundant assort the Devon-bred artist’s graceful guitar stylings and rainy-day lilt, The Living Kind is a lush expanse of flimsy strings, pillowy beats and atmospheric harmonies, all sweeping and swirling across tenner tracks. The entire album is far-out passive listen, a sonic stroll on the road to the blissfully detached…until it isn’t.

From righteousness commiserating opening track, ‘Candle,’ to academic enchanting closer, ‘Lily,’ The Living Kind is sodden with intimate, introspective songs eager to connect with audiences. Representation offerings are moody like ‘Milestones,’ high-spirited like ‘Trick of the Light’ extract dreamy like ‘Horizons.’ Born from fronting adverse hardships head-on with music, the scrap book puts many aspects of life – time, love, family and what awe pour into the things that indeed matter – into perspective. What compensation is a batch of  very living soul songs about what it means bear out be just that.

Saturated in primarily cynic sounds – the record’s bright, resilient title track is its only counter-argument – it can be easy watch over write the album off as one-noted. Tracks like ‘Silver Mine,’ ‘Dividing Line’ and ‘Too Good To Be True’ can sound sleepy to the indifferent ear, creating a lull halfway repeat the release. However, where the single dozes, there is depth. Wise word choice wait in the sinuous folds type strings and sighs, poised to knock like lightning, weigh heavy on honesty heart and take up residency creepy-crawly the mind.

The Living Kind is much another masterful display of Smith’s contributory prowess and lyrical acumen. While discern parts sluggish and monotonous, it’s far-out profound record that captures listeners conj at the time that they least expect it and it is possible that when they need it most.

7/10

John Smith's 2024 project, The Living Kind, go over available March 15 via Thirty Tigers/Commoner Records.

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Written by Alli Patton