Sean Rowe - Madman (2014)

When first introduced to Troy, New York singer/songwriter Sean Rowe through his ANTI- debut Magic, I would never imagined him making a record like this year's Madman. Madman, his third full length record with ANTI- and his follow up to 2012's The Salesman and the Shark finds expanding his sounds outside of the folk aesthetic. Rowe's genre flirtations on The Salesman and the Shark are taken to their logical conclusion in what is arguably his most pop-oriented to create an album that's not just melancholic rambles cemented by Rowe's booming baritone.

Considering the majority of Rowe's early days as performer was covering soul and blues tunes in small local bars (which his voice is perfectly well suited for), it's refreshing that he turns his sights towards those sounds on Madman. It allows Rowe to flex his songwriting chops in a way that wasn't quite afforded to him in his purely folk turns. Just look at lead/title track "Madman" or the Barry White funkiness of "Desiree" - Rowe's allowing himself to have fun on this album but not at the expense of any of his obvious talent. It's another album like The Salesman and the Shark that points affectionately towards Rowe's record collection while allowing Rowe to expand as a talented songwriter/performer in his own right. And yet Rowe knows exactly when to recenter the album as less of a full band and more as a proper narrative showcase.


It's no surprise that the enjoyable tracks on Madman are those in which Rowe let's his hair down. The album is an eclectic metamorphosis through styles but is anchored by Rowe's confident delivery. While Rowe has never the risk of not being accessible, there's no denying Madman's universal appeal as many of the album's best tracks are when Rowe allows himself to blend in with the rest of his full band - who are talented in their own right. Those little moments of musical excellent are what really elevate the album to awe-inspiring levels; those moments that perfectly capture a frenetic live fervor - like the jazzy tinkling keys or shrieking baritone sax in "Shine My Diamond Ring" or the sludgy din of garage rock distortion on "The Real Thing". Madman is a record that gives an interesting glimpse into the man who made it not through any revealing lyricism, Rowe's done quite enough of that already, but through showing just what inspired and excites - an excitement that is clearly contagious, that'll sweep the listener up and bring them along for the full ride.

Watch: Sean Rowe - "Downwind"

Today marks the official release day of singer/songwriter Sean Rowe's latest album The Salesman and the Shark and he's ringing in the occasion with a music video for one of the album's lighter tracks "Downwind". I say lighter because even though the song itself is about escaping from jail and living off the fat of the land, it's still got a pep-in-your-step jaunty melody and guitar rock jangle.

The accompanying video is part home video featuring scenes of Rowe and friends at play part lose interpretation of the song as there's scenes of Rowe outdoors brooding and police cars and such. The video is interesting in that it seems to hint at a upcoming drama that never comes. Even as the song gains intensity and the images grow more fast-paced and disjointed, there video kind of ends on a sort of ellipses. Of completely unrealized dramatic payoff. Instead you're left with lingering scenes of fun, and black and white memories of Rowe shredding on guitar, and passing trains, and somehow that's all okay.

Watch Sean Rowe's video for "Downwind":


(via Spinner)

Sean Rowe - "Horses"

It hasn't been that long since I've been introduced to singer/songwriter Sean Rowe. In fact the song that reminded me about him is one of his most recent. Next month Rowe will put out the follow up to his ANTI- debut Magic, The Salesman and the Shark and new track "Horses" certainly shows that Rowe's been up to a little something something. 

A sort of daring, ominous plodding is pretty much the defining sound of "Horses" a la a high speed chase or reminiscent of Spanish desperadoes. Percussion heavy with violin ornaments featuring Jenavieve Varga from Lost in the Trees, the track pulses with danger and intrigue as Rowe booming baritone occasionally turns to dramatic melismatic howls. "Horses" is the kind of track that makes your heart beat and blood pump a little faster when it plays, regardless of how many times you listen. It's energetic and features more of Rowe's brilliant narrative pacing. An exciting peak at what to expect from the new album. 

Sean Rowe's The Salesman and the Shark is out August 28th on ANTI-.

 

Pitstop: Sean Rowe

My introduction to singer/songwriter Sean Rowe happened in rather different circumstances than what would be deemed my normal. A brief trip up to Albany some months ago to visit Olivia Quillio, a talented singer/songwriter in her own right, turned into an afternoon of sharing music of interest to each other not unlike a slower-paced version of Portlandia's "Did You Read?" sketch only with some of the artists/bands shared tending to be pretty much unknown to the other. Enter Sean Rowe, when Olivia asked if I had heard of him she seemed absolutely taken aback that I hadn't and whipped out her iPhone to quickly resolve that after explaining Rowe's part in fostering her own talents. Turns out Sean Rowe used to host open mic nights in their native Troy, New York which she attended religiously. Neat.



But all of this is just a fun like anecdote that in no way does justice to Rowe's talents. When Olivia played that first Sean Rowe video, I fell in love. Hard. Rowe's reverberating baritone carries some absolute svelte songcraft filled with all sorts of brilliantly constructed phrases as he juxtaposes nature imagery with tales of human woe.  Each and every track on Rowe's ANTI- Records debut Magic is quotable and memorably so.



Rowe's writes in a style that combines a kind of nonchalant, non-insistent poetry with detailed plain speak - the result which highlights exactly what he feels you need to hear. What might be trivial normally carries an addition weight when spoken by Rowe- "He puts out the light and he jerks off alone" ("American"). Rowe's no soul artist but his songs feel like they very much could be - filled with heart, passion, and occasionally boiling over with fiery spirit ("Jonathan"). 





You can listen to Magic on Spotify while you wait for Rowe's upcoming third album The Salesman and the Shark which isn't out until August 28th on ANTI- .