Bobby Bare Jr.’s latest project is a lyrical presentation of seven songs which prevent the listener from regarding this as just another collection from “some southern-gothic, Johnny Cash/Conner Oberst hybrid;” it’s certainly much more than that. Very much a potpourri, Bare Jr.’s American Bread is more of a moody, musical snapshot of the artist than it is a polished, full-length album. This “uncollected collection” feel really serves the songs well as each is delivered with a(n apparently calculated) nonchalance resulting in the skillful swagger a Southern-Gothic might typically go for.
“A Horse with No Name” is a poetic march across desert, sea and forest. While austere drum taps and a mechanical whirring open, a sullen electric piano gently rocks eerily between chords inviting the creeping, throaty whisper to begin its tale. “The ocean is a desert with its life underground/and a perfect disguise above. Under the cities lies a heart made of ground/but the humans will give no love.”
The rich, crackly timbre of the baritone vocals give a folksy-wisdom which both pleases aurally and punches the record with a distinct, grandfatherly personality. Background vocals abound, and yet are subtly used more as instruments; harmonically complementing with the soft texture of brush strokes. The drum and bass work is inspired; a pristine combination of tasteful parts and classic tone. The pair develop grooves well while staying a far cry from being featured. Each instrument seems carefully selected and artfully captured in a way which presents its vintage quality. Though minimalistic, the production seems the result of a deliberate whittling which is a testament to the artist’s ingenuity in composition. Only instruments that work well together, and they do fit together wonderfully, stay. These recordings create musical space and the songs are the better for it.
