Thursday, January 4, 2018

Michael Askin - Road by the River (2017)




Written by Jay Snyder, posted by blog admin

EP number three from New Jersey born singer/songwriter Michael Askin is a sultry blend of country, rock and folk that hits the bullseye on every genre it draws from.  Askin formerly cut his teeth in the band environment with groups like Divine Sign and My State of Attraction but he has chosen to strike out on his own.  Even more impressive he composes every note and word himself for a home-cooked flavor that really has an original vibe inserted into a well-worn sound.  Additionally, he plays every instrument and performs the entirety of the Road by the River EP himself. 

The title track kicks things off with a trotting acoustic guitar licks, roots-y bass work, precision vocal harmonies and tapping snare drumming that sounds as if the beats were played by brushes.  Slight electric guitar inflections ripple over the acoustics and Askin’s dusty croon crashes free flow verses into a simple, memorable chorus that sticks in the brain long after the song finishes playing.  An energetic tempo drives the tune along like a wagon train on the run from a gang of gunslingers.  Thanks to the stellar production job of Kurt Reil, each individual instrumental texture sticks out tall and proud for a careful ear examination. 

A plucky, Pure Prairie League styled shimmering twang opens up the delicate, graceful swing of Nashville.  Slide and pedal steel are interwoven with the acoustic transcendence as a harder backbeat, tougher bass grooves and some fiery electric leads enrich the aural atmosphere in numerous countrified brushstrokes that makes for a complete, appetizing whole.  Askin’s vocals ring of the belated legend Tom Petty and more recently Kurt Vile, both of which I consider to be very high compliments.  Glistening acoustic guitars give away to rugged bluesy riffs on the 70s-tinged, organ-kissed heft of “Sun’s Going Down.”  This track features Michael’s grittiest performance on the album, as well as the EP’s down n’ dirtiest instrumentation; making for a powerhouse of a song that sounds straight out of the golden age of bluesy rock n’ roll. 

Hymnal organ melodies also play a part in “Hard to Make a Living” which trades the greasy blues for a country gallop and Bob Dylan-inspired folk.  Fuzzy, ol’ Americana riffs could win over some fans of 16 Horsepower but the main focus is firmly placed on twinkling, starlit acoustic guitar swagger and subtle rhythmic nuances.  Closer “Last Train” couples a swirling, Ennio Morricone soundtrack feel to steadfast country music slither.  Again organ mingles with acoustic guitar while the rhythms play more of an atmospheric counterpoint role instead of stepping out in front to lead the way.  It’s a bewitching finale that ends this EP on a seamlessly cohesive note. 

Road by the River is a mature, immaculately composed third outing for Michael Askin.  Upper echelon songwriting, textured production, rock solid vocal delivery and dynamic instrumentation come together for a satisfying listen that is sure to quell the hunger felt from all fans of authentic, old school grooves.  There’s not a bad track in the bunch as each tune spends sometime in the limelight with its own unique, individualistic sound.  All in all, Road by the River is five cuts of the finest country-dipped blues rock around. 

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