Scott Hirsch - Blue Rider Songs

Scott Hirsch
Blue Rider Songs
2016
Spotify

I came across this album knowing almost nothing about Scott Hirsch and his electric musical background. Blue Rider Songs is a debut solo album but it shows a vast musical knowledge and a deep understanding of what makes something good, melodic ect ect. On this album Hirsch is looking for what all his years of touring meant and what the true spirit of American music actually is. Some would call this record Country others Americana, but really it just feels like down home music that makes sense to almost everyone's ears. Hirsch's vocals dance on the complex music he creates and when a female vocal is brought in for "Loss of Forgetfulness" it changes the whole vibe into a real community getting together and making some tunes. The record doesn't hit you as much as it just seems to roll out. Hirsh's songs don't bang you over the head and for most you will find that the song you heard at the beginning has the same spirit, but is very different from what you are hearing at the end. This is a record for a wanderer never quite sure of the destination, but knowing with a lot of fervor that there has got to be one out there. "Darkness" almost sums up this sentiment perfectly with it's one foot in front of the other marching along style.

The production done at Hirsch's newish California studio is really masterful. "No Wife" which is only 1:57 long and features no vocals has instrumentation all over the place coming together for a groove that you will not soon forget. With each new musical element he brings to the track it gets better and more complex but never crowded. This really is a through line for the whole record, Hirsch is never afraid to throw in something new as long as He is sure He can make it work. With a lot of this kind of music and I brought it up in my Eric Clapton review as well (http://goo.gl/v1DoMV) things can get a bit boring and bogged down as they go on and on, which this album does suffer from a bit in the middle, but Hirsch brings you right back around with something new before you can dwell to long on it. You can hear how live these jam songs will really take a long long time to unfold which is usually quite grading. Blue Rider Songs is one of those albums that shows us just how great Country music could be when placed in the right hands. Don't be surprised if you see Hirsch name in the prodcution notes for some of the biggest country acts very soon.

8.2 out of 10