Alex
Newman Band – Man Of Simple Needs (Independent)
A major draw on the New York City Americana club
scene, the Alex Newman Band are rumoured to be equally at home playing on a
street corner or in a park. Obviously the band (Alex Newman sings lead and plays
guitar and piano. Tony DePiano plays guitar and mandolin. Tyler Erickson drums
and Val Celentano plays bass) feel a need to play their music wherever they
find themselves, and they transfer their enthusiasm into a studio setting with
some ease.
Their debut record “Man Of Simple Needs” is a vibrant
six-track collection, which serves as a terrific introduction to an outfit that
taps into both the contemporary folk-rock scene, best exemplified by Mumford
and Sons and The Lumineers, and something older too. Maybe it’s a Counting
Crows influence at play, or perhaps it’s just Newman’s vocals, a big, honeyed,
soul-drenched tone that dominates the recording and brings to mind the voice of
Adam Duritz.
They get things moving with the record’s title track,
a full-on blast of upbeat, fist-punching roots-rock, the sort of thing that
helped earn their reputation as a first-rate live band, and it’s just as
effective on record. Crank it up loud and I dare you to listen to it sitting
down. Slower numbers like “Gotta Good Feeling”
and “Oldest, Warmest, Jacket” are just as good;
the former is almost Van Morrison-esque, which is rarely a bad thing, and the
latter might just be the best song of the bunch.
Phil S.
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