(NoAlternative Records) James Apollo's music is the kind that only Americans can make. It evokes images of never-ending highways, baking hot days and isolated, sleepy little towns where nothing much ever happens.
It is also beautiful and breath-taking in equal measure. This is his third album after his 2003 debut Sweet Unknown and 2006's Good Grief.
It begins with the Dylan-esque Where All Love's Pilgrims Come. A sweeping dust bowl epic that wouldn't have seemed out of place on Desire.
It's followed by the lush loveliness of Better To Be Born Lucky.
Much of Apollo's songwriting produces gently paced but powerful songs.
His voice sounds like it belongs to a veteran of too many heartbreaks and too many empty bottles of whisky. It has a wicked rasp but, paradoxically, is still soothing.
I've Got It Easy is a lovely Lambchop-style stroll of a song while Don't Hurt Yourself, Baby is an aching lament.
Accompanied by little more than plaintive piano or a lazily strummed guitar , this is music perfect for the end of a long hard day. It's a little bit country and a little bit rock, but it most certainly isn't country rock
As well as fans of Dylan and Lambchop those who enjoy the rootsy Americana of Steve Earle, Ryan Adams and even Tom Waits, will almost certainly find something to delight them here.
Other notable tracks are Moth and the title track which closes the album, but in truth, Apollo sets a high standard from the off and doesn't let it slip.
9 out of 10
Do you agree?Comment below, email us:
nigel.thornton@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk.
Related:
ET interview with James, 5 May, 2006.
Elsewhere online:
Gig review: James Apollo at the Tchai Ovna tearoom, Glasgow - The Scotsman.
Listen to tracks from Hide Your Heart In A Hive at Last.fm.
MySpace.com - James Apollo.
The full article contains 322 words and appears in ET Life newspaper.
