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 Brian
Gladstone -
Psychedelic Pholk Psongs
Silverwolf
Review By Marty Murray
Reprinted
from The Nail Online
Toronto guitar picker extraordinaire Brian Gladstone
has come a long way in a very short time. Two years ago he recorded his
debut CD, "Back To The Dirt." Since then he's been playing quite a number
of live gigs, and has been the organizer behind Toronto's Earth Day
concert and the upcoming Winterfolk Festival. Mainly, though, he's
been working on a follow-up album, and the result is "Psychedelic Pholk
Psongs." As indie releases go, this one is a first-class effort. The
recording is excellent, and the striking cover art and extensive liner
notes are a very nice touch indeed. First released in September of 2001,
the album soon began picking up radio airplay in Europe and Australia, and
before long Brian found himself being signed to Silverwolf Records, a folk
label located in Vermont, and home to artists such as the Kingston Trio
and Odetta. Since then the album has been extensively re-recorded and
remastered, and has gone on to a second pressing.
Like "Back To The Dirt," this is a totally acoustic
album. No electric instruments were allowed, no fancy production tricks,
just a straightforward, honest recording, aided by Brian's frequent live
accompanists, sister Bonnie Gladstone on harmony vocals and lead guitarist
Tony Quarrington on second guitar and mandolin. Brian's forte is lightning
fast fingerpicking, and there's plenty of it to be found here. His style
often lies somewhere between traditional bluegrass and ragtime, his songs
covering subject matter from the very humourous to the introspective and
socially conscious. "Asphalt Cowboy," "I Like Me" and "Mega City Mel" are
examples of the former. Brian's serious side comes out in the more
folk-based compositions, such as "Save The Wolverine," "Do You Think
You're Dorothy," the exquisitely played "I Still Think About You Babe,"
and the touching "A Father's Lullaby." The entire album has a nice "down
home" feel, as if you're sitting in his livingroom listening to him
perform. As Brian remarks, this is "the only CD which restores brain cells
lost to cheap 60's drugs!" I don't know if that's true, but it certainly
is a very pleasant listen and a very unique recording. For more
information about Brian Gladstone, his CDs and his upcoming performances,
please go to his website at
www.backtothedirt.com.
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