Kris Gruen –
Coast & Refuge (Mother West)
I think it’s fair to say Kris Gruen’s been ‘round the block a few
times, paid some dues and thoroughly deserves whatever success comes his way.
Whether or not Coast & Refuge is the album to break him out to a larger
audience, I’ve no idea, though there’s plenty here to attract radio play on
grown-up stations, and maybe he’s simply due a slice of good fortune.
A New York City native who now lives in Vermont, Gruen manages to
combine downtown smarts with emotional country sincerity throughout Coast &
Refuge’s thirteen cuts, and it’s an especially winning combination when coupled
with stylish pop hooks and the sort of choruses that’ll surely attract the
whistling postmen of the world.
The album starts strongly with the power popping, Marshall
Crenshaw-esque ‘Body In Motion’. If I still made mixtapes, it’d be making
regular appearances (whilst simultaneously killing the record industry). ‘Young
Hearts’ is a fantastic duet with Finnish singer-songwriter Peppina, with both voices
providing perfect counters; those grown-up radio stations would love it.
Gruen has a reputation for collaborating with talented people.
Earlier releases featured contributions from Anais Mitchell and The Bones of
J.R. Jones, amongst others. Coast & Refuge certainly carries on that
tradition – the album is overseen by LA writer/producers Brad Gordon and Justin
Gray. Other notables include a co-write with AM (‘You Say’), who also plays on
the track, and a stunner of a final song (‘2008’) – another duet, this time
with Samantha Yonack of Jim and Sam fame.
Rollo
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