DAVID OLNEY

Film Noir

2011-05-24

On "Film Noir," a concept EP, David Olney evokes a gritty, Big-City-After-Dark disquiet. Equal parts lonely bluesman and method actor - Johhny Cash and Leon Redbone and Tom Waits - Olney creates songs like little movies based on grimy, dog eared paperbacks. These brand new songs all sound as if they were found, covered in dust, in a back alley Used Record Store. "Frank is Gone" is a jangly blues shuffle like an anxious junky walking the streets. If Cab Calloway had lost it all and traded his white tux for a torn felt hat and barn coat, he would sing "Blue Moon Hotel." "$20 Serenade," nearly an homage to Tom Waits street characters, is an ancient sounding gimp walk tragedy with a B-movie twist. "Blues Don't Care" and "Sunset on Sunset Boulevard" are both hollow, lonely songs to steal your joy. Reviewed By: Todd Townsend.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 11/2006

    STING
    Songs from the Labyrinth

  • reviewed 02/2006

    THE WOOD BROTHERS
    Ways Not to Lose

  • reviewed 02/2012

    THE WIYOS
    Twist

  • reviewed 04/2006

    The Eighteenth Day of May
    The Eighteenth Day of May

  • reviewed 02/2009

    NEKO CASE
    MIDDLE CYCLONE

  • reviewed 09/2014

    BRIANNA LEA PRUETT
    GYPSEY BELLS

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.