CD Reviews
From the start of Justin Levinson’s newest release “Predetermined Fate”, I feel
good. Justin does a great job of mixing good songwriting and vocals with upbeat, folksy,
acoustic rock and musicianship. Throughout the album Justin brings us through a range of
emotions touching on topics like coming to terms with love, being hurt in life, getting by
day to day, all while trying to be a better person overall.
Many times musicians fall into the trap of bringing the listener down while cov-
ering life’s heavier topics, but Justin manages to do all of this while keeping the listener
bouncing along with his catchy songwriting and great playing. I really enjoy the fact that
the album is also a journey, a roller coaster of feelings pulling us in to the end of our own
trip with the mellowest track of the disc, Sleep Child, to send us on our way.
While listening, I can’t help but hear a mixture of Neil Young, Railroad Earth and
Bright Eyes. Justin Levinson writes good songs, bringing out emotions all listeners can
relate to and in the end, isn’t that what music is supposed to do? -DH
“The Acoustic Guitar - Music
for Yoga” is a perfect transcen-
dental mode of escape. The
chords dominate, creating a soft
trance-like melody that follows a
thin thread from one song to the
next. Each song on the album
flows like water, so concentration
or relaxation is never broken in
transition. Yogi Patrick McAn-
drew crafts an album that is best
Hot Day at The Zoo manages to conjure
for meditation or tranquility,
grizzled days of old, with a clear eyed acknowledge-
and the disc formulates a gentle,
ment of the present; somehow that is distinctly New
humming undertone to mind
England and it comes across loud and clear on the
clearing activity. -KM
band’s third album, “Zoograss.” There is something
strained and worn, yet also smooth and boyish about “Flesh and Blood: Songs about Infertility and Adop-
Jon Cumming’s voice that leaves listeners feeling as tion” are, if nothing else, a brave outpouring of emotion by Brent
though they stumbled into a back barn romp that Flickinger and family. There is little subtlety here, and the lis-
spun out a little into the chilly moonlight. The free
tener gets the feeling that the family would have no reservations
wheeling interplay between the banjo and the guitar
about answering any questions, especially since some song lyrics
hold the listener there.
include the order of the butt cheeks in which the hormone shot is
“Mercy of the Sea” is rare in that its authen-
administered. The story is told
ticity does not sound weary. Even though the song
like a Kid House Rock special
is about weariness, it is by no means a song about
on adoption – it would perhaps
resignation. “Show Me the Way to go Home” is more
be best for the young adoptee
of a plea for the sort of abandon that only mountain
upon reaching maturity. There
air and a drink that goes to the head can provide. The
is a simplistic, childlike ap-
snaking harmonica that follows quickly on the tail of
proach which reveals the raw,
the wailing repetition seems to seal the smoky night
often humiliating feelings par-
air right into the tune. Brassy chunks of gritty heart
ents confront when they cannot
thump along with slick grassy strings to give Hot Day
conceive the child they wish for.
at the Zoo a sound that croons to faltering hearts and
-KM
tapping boots alike. -KM
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