Wry, bittersweet stories for the lovelorn, wrapped in a threadbare classic country Texan heart.
Album release dates are usually arbitrary, utilitarian business decisions, devoid of any tangible meaning. But once in a great while, an artist releases an album on or near a date that dovetails perfectly with the album’s theme. Such is the case with Keegan McInroe’s eighth solo album “Neon John”, which was released on Friday, February 13th. Juxtapose that superstitiously unlucky date with the next day, which just happens to be Valentine’s Day, and you have the dominant theme of the album-love sought, love found (or not), love lost, wrapped in a musical salve that feels light-heartedly melancholy yet somehow comforting.
The album opens with the line “Looking for love in all the wrong windows” sung in the familiar melody of Johnny Lee’s ‘Looking For Love’ that was a 1980 hit from the “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack. The album’s title track ‘Neon John’, which appears to be set in Amsterdam’s red light district, is an age-old tale of a lonely man falling for a working girl. This song sets a tone that persists throughout the album-the sculpting of heartbreaking tales of woe into gentle, bittersweet vignettes. There is nothing even remotely heavy-handed or maudlin anywhere on the album. Well, the album closer ‘Chago’s Blue Lament #1’ is a little heavy-handed, but in a really good way. More on that later.
‘Black Beauty’ sounds like the lovechild of something off The Grateful Dead’s “American Beauty” and The Band’s “Music From Big Pink”, if they had all moved to Amarillo and assimilated. The backing players, a Texas who’s who of seasoned pros, deliver a rich-but-nuanced slurry of, B3, piano, fiddle, mando, harp, lap steel, slide and drums throughout the album, always serving the song and never overshadowing the story.
‘She’s A Fighter’ is a drop-dead gorgeous song that makes one think John Prine has been resurrected and is still doing duets with Iris DeMent. Keegan’s vocal is a Prine dead-ringer on this track. Not on any other tracks. Just this one. Keegan seems to channel several familiar voices that he has presumably pulled from his bag of vocal influences. Perhaps unconscientiously, perhaps by design, perhaps homage, but they feel authentic, not derivative.
Which brings us to ‘Wild And Free’. This song is reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson at his best, sonically, vocally, and lyrically. There is just something in the feel of the whole album-more classic 70’s outlaw/alt-country than hackneyed, modern cross-over pastiche.
The album closes with ‘Chago’s Blue Lament #1’. It is the lone atmospheric, raunchy guitar-soaked offering on the album. Edgy, dead-thumb gut-bucket blues. Like a wry, final parting salvo from an album gravid with star-crossed love, Keegan growls: “She like it rough, she like it tumble. He leaves his heart out on a line. They made love, and then they cuddle. But she won’t be his valentine”. A fine closer. Bring on Laments # 2 and #3 please.
So there you have it. “Neon John” is one album you’ll be glad you found, whether you are nursing a broken heart not. And if you are, let the healing begin.
