Published on Aug 20, 2008
Pictures And Sound, the self-titled debut from former Blue Merle frontman Luke Reynolds’ new project, sounds like what would happen if you crossed the plaintive, scruffily soaring vocals of Coldplay’s Chris
Following the breakup of Blue Merle, Reynolds left
Opener “Everything Leaves A Mark” pulls you in right from the start with its spacious sound. Reynolds’ sweetly weary vocals echo through the ringing guitars and slightly fuzzy drums and bass as he recounts a single night that sears itself on his consciousness forever, serving as a reminder to live life full to its edge, always. This track, like its follow-up “The Last Ocean,” is over all too soon, leaving you breathless by the time it ends. “Ocean,” meanwhile, is propelled by an irresistibly energetic riff that swerves into poppy, Shins-like harmonies halfway through. It’s the lyrics that really make this one hit home, though, giving weightiness to the otherwise spiraling pep in lines like, “If this was our last waltz would you dance different? / If I was the last ocean, or the first photograph of Earth, would that change what I was worth?”
Overall, Pictures And Sound is remarkably cohesive, zipping along from gem to gem. “It’s You” spins the traditional sappy love ballad on its head, keeping the sentiment but updating it with layered guitars, breezy harmonies, and spot-on lyrics: “It’s you I love, not the thought of you / You’re the proof I use to measure what is true.” “Shadow Boxing” builds churning riffs into an anthemic chorus, while “Big Screen” blends shivering drums and light sparks of guitar, all pulsing with an undercurrent of restlessness (“ It feels like everything’s about to change,” Reynolds laments in between images of flickering television screens, empty skies, and endlessly unfolding roads.)
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Willie Nelson collaboration “Every War” is one of the album’s shining points, their distinctive vocal styles meshing well amid a backdrop of rumbling bass and simmering acoustic guitar, not to mention a memorable Nelson guitar solo. The song’s irrepressibly jaunty instrumentation couples with incisive, topical lyrics throughout, each line so resonant it’s tough to pluck one out of the fold.
It’s too early to tell, but Pictures And Sound’s debut is likely to be a candidate for my Best Of wrap-up this year. It’s a visceral, stunning slice of life from a singer/songwriter who leaves his own indelible mark on everything he touches.
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