Richie Furay can lay legitimate claims to being a founding father of the Country-Rock subgenre of popular music. Of course if you hate the Eagles like many people do, you might not consider that a good thing. For me however, I enjoy that style of music and all of its sometimes woolly incarnations. Richie is one of the founding members of Buffalo Spingfield and Poco and his signature song is "Kind Woman" a simple, direct ballad that has stood up to changing musical tastes and endures even today. After struggling for years for popularity and recognision, Richie quit the band Poco and started down his own path which included a conversion to Christianity that pushed his music into new lyrical directions.
His first solo album, "I Got a Reason" leaves some of the country-rock leanings behind in favor of a more polished bass, guitar and drum format. What Richie does keep firmly in place is his knack for a catchy melody and some sweet musical hooks. Most of the songs stay withing the range of 3-5 minutes and only when he tries to jam out, such as the disastrous "Over and Over Again" does Richie and bands start to sound like a light rock Emerson Lake and Palmer (not a good idea or sound on any level).
Any fan of 70's country rock or singer songwriters would be well served checking this record out, there is a high ratio of great tunes to clunkers and Richie's tenor voice is always a pleasure to listen to. Don't be scared by the fact he is a Christian...the songs are not from the mind of some newly converted Jesus Freak, they just hint at a spiritual awakening. Isn't that what most music is about anyway? File this one under: Catnip for your ears.
His first solo album, "I Got a Reason" leaves some of the country-rock leanings behind in favor of a more polished bass, guitar and drum format. What Richie does keep firmly in place is his knack for a catchy melody and some sweet musical hooks. Most of the songs stay withing the range of 3-5 minutes and only when he tries to jam out, such as the disastrous "Over and Over Again" does Richie and bands start to sound like a light rock Emerson Lake and Palmer (not a good idea or sound on any level).
Any fan of 70's country rock or singer songwriters would be well served checking this record out, there is a high ratio of great tunes to clunkers and Richie's tenor voice is always a pleasure to listen to. Don't be scared by the fact he is a Christian...the songs are not from the mind of some newly converted Jesus Freak, they just hint at a spiritual awakening. Isn't that what most music is about anyway? File this one under: Catnip for your ears.
No comments:
Post a Comment