Published on Jun 22, 1999
What would you get if you crossed Garth Brooks with Tom
Waits?
Yup, I’m not sure, either. But I think that Jon Dee Graham might
be the closest thing we have to an answer, as his most recent album
Summerland proves. It’s an interesting mix of the beauty of
country music with a rawer, “from the street” sound to Graham’s
vocals. Scared? Don’t be; the mixture is wonderfully
refreshing.
With a solid backing group and a parade of guests (including
vocalist Kacy Crowley), Graham lays down 12 tracks of wonderfully
crafted tunes that is sure to send the country world into a state
of confusion. Mixed in with the traditional pedal steel guitar is
the grit of L.A. alternative music – and for that, the scene may
never be the same again… thank God.
From the outset of tracks like “A Place In The Shade” and “Big
Sweet Life,” you can tell that Graham isn’t the typical “Okie from
Muskogee”. His own unique voice and style of attacking the music
brings about a freshness to the genre that hasn’t been heard in a
long time. Songs like “Half The Time,” “Butterfly Wing” and “God’s
Perfect Love” all reflect this new style at its most effective.
Don’t be surprised if you don’t like it on the first listen;
while I loved
Summerland from the first listen, I’ll freely admit this is
a sound and style that one has to get used to. I loaned this disc
to a friend of mine who is big into country music. One hour later,
she handed it back to me and said, “Eew.” I guess if you’re a fan
of the more traditional style of country (meaning pre-Garth), you
might have a harder time adapting to this disc.
The only weakness I can find on
Summerland is that Graham isn’t always able to keep my
attention focused on the music. Sure, this is a pretty album, but
by the time songs like “Threads” and “Lucky Moon” kick in, I found
myself becoming easily distracted, and the songs faded into just
background music too quickly. Still, if my life needed background
music, this is as good any.
Summerland is a disc from an artist whose time has not yet
come – only because Graham is so far ahead of his time. If he has
the stamina to keep pressing on with this unique style of
alternative country, I have no doubt that he’ll soon be revered as
a superstar instead of a potential rebel ready to upset the apple
cart. My advice: go ahead and give it a push.