Published on Mar 19, 2001
There is something about John Gorka’s voice that makes you feel
like you’ve known him all your life – even if you’ve never heard
his music before. There is a richness and warmth that beckons to
the listener, inviting them to sit down, have a cup of coffee in
front of the fireplace and listen as Gorka tells them tales through
his musical craft.
The Company You Keep, the latest collection of folk-oriented
songs from Gorka, continues in that pattern, varying between
moments of deep thought and personal reflection and lighter moments
which help to clear the air at just the right time. In short, it’s
a wonderful disc.
How well constructed is
The Company You Keep? Unless you’re reading the liner notes,
you might miss the guest appearances by such names as Mary Chapin
Carpenter and Michael Manring, Ani DiFranco and Patty Larkin. They
become part of the picture that Gorka paints in each one of the 14
songs featured on this disc – not the easiest of feats for any
musician to accomplish. But Gorka does it so naturally, allowing
their voices and instruments to seamlessly join his creations.
Gorka serves as an Everyman on this disc, making observations
about life that we might have seen but never said anything about.
Whether it’s a wish for candidates for office to strive for a
higher ideal (“Oh Abraham”), the difficulties of life and other
people (“When I Lost My Faith”), a statement for someone whose life
has taken a wrong turn (“When You Walk In”) or just reveling in the
joys that life has to offer (“A Saint’s Complaint”), Gorka spins
tales wrapped around his rich baritone vocals and draws you in, to
the point that you might find yourself disappointed when the songs
end.
Any length of deep thinking requires some form of release, and
Gorka recognizes this on
The Company You Keep, taking time to lean back and let go
with a musical form of belly laughs (“Hank Senior Moment,” “People
My Age”). The breaks come at the right times on this album, and it
helps to re-set the mood and scene for both artist and listener.
Well done!
What’s a pity is that many people might not give Gorka a
fighting chance, simply because this type of music doesn’t neatly
fit into any one format on the radio – yet another example, kids,
of what we call a God-Damn Shame. Sure, Gorka’s music isn’t
pre-packaged to fit the flavor of the moment – but we should be
celebrating the fact that someone is willing to record music that
cuts against the grain of pop culture. If life were fair, Gorka
would be topping the charts with this disc – and one wonders how he
would reflect on that in his music. I’m guessing he’d look at it
with a cocked eye.
The Company You Keep is not merely an excellent disc; it’s
an essential disc. It gives the listener a chance to take a
60-minute break from the everyday world and allow themselves to be
taken on a journey from story to story, and place to place. There’s
no clearer way to say it: buy this disc. You’ll thank me
afterwards.