2014-05-24
Detroit's Stewart Francke has received notable praise throughout his career, collaborated with Bruce Springsteen, and has opened for the likes of artists such as Steve Earle and Sheryl Crowe. In short, he is no amateur. On his 14th album A Familiar Fire, he explores a variety of genres through a plethora of moods and tones. While the 11 tracks on the record derive from varying influences, there is still a cohesive thread throughout the songs: one that both evokes and challenges the definition of "classic". It was produced by Bryan Reilly at Birmingham's RMS Studio, and is, according to Francke, his "best work to date as far as accessibility and variety in the songwriting."
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS
The Age of the Understatement
Alana Davis
Surrender Dorothy
THE WATSON TWINS
TALKING TO YOU, TALKING TO ME
Robbers On High Street
Tree City
Evening Bell
Dying Stars
Shawn Lee / Various
- Under the Sun
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.