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 01/2017

    John Craigie
    No Rain, No Rose

  • reviewed 10/2008

    RAY LA MONTAGNE
    Gossip in the Grain

  • reviewed 06/2016

    The Argues
    Something New

  • reviewed 04/2012

    AMBER RUBARTH
    A Common Case of Disappearing

  • reviewed 03/2012

    SHANIMAL
    Rough & Tumble: Everybody Gets the Blues

  • reviewed 10/2006

    DAN BERN
    Breath

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.