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 12/2015

    The Paperboys
    At Peace With Ones Ghosts

  • reviewed 04/2007

    BREATHE OWL BREATHE
    BREATHE OWL BREATHE

  • reviewed 06/2010

    PETE BERNHARD
    Straight Line

  • reviewed 09/2014

    BRIANNA LEA PRUETT
    GYPSEY BELLS

  • reviewed 04/2004

    Darden Smith
    Circo

  • reviewed 02/2011

    BRUCE COCKBURN
    Small Source of Comfort

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.