Paradox of Grace
Don Conoscenti
Cogtone Records
2001
11 tracks
Don Conoscenti is himself a bit of a paradox if not a total enigma. The cover art for Paradox of Grace shows a tough looking guy with shaved head and no shirt, yet the songs inside are gentle and introspective. With seven albums before this one, Conoscenti has been recording a long time and has a considerable reputation as a songwriter, guitarist and singer, yet he is far from being a household name, being more of a niche favourite among musicians and a limited audience of selective music lovers. Conoscenti should be better known.
Conoscenti's vocals and his writing remind me of a wide range of niche and popular artists including Peter Sarstedt, Bryan Adams, the early Rod Stewart, the countrified side of The Eagles, Don McLean and others. At times, his vocal style is reminiscent of each of these, yet each performance belongs distinctly and memorably to Don Conoscenti.
Beyond his obvious talent in all aspects of his work, the key to Conoscenti's sound may be his impeccable attention to detail. His songs are like finely polished gems, with every facet gone over until it has the perfect shine. The words, the music, the playing, the singing -- each is honed until it is sharp and bright, and each complements the other.
Part of this attention to detail is Conoscenti's selection of musicians to support him in his performances. He manages to find some of the best musicians available and, more important, musicians who seem to understand just what his work is about and to be able to meld perfectly with his sound. The result is tight, seamless musical performances that, while quiet and even restrained, express a power from within.
If I have any complaint at all, it's the use of gimmicky effects by this talented acoustic musician. The music on this release would be just as good without reversed recordings of instruments, barking dogs, and esoteric spoken vocals in the background. It may be because this is the third release I've reviewed in a row that had barking dogs, but I'm finding this stuff to be irrelevant and unnecessary, if not downright clichéd.
Every song on Paradox of Grace deserves mention, but I was especially impressed by Conoscenti's sympathetic interpretation of Woody Guthry's "Vigilante Man" and by the title song. For general appeal and for a bunch of reasons, many personal, "Only the Truth" was the song on this release that most appealed to me. It's a gentle song with a sweet guitar line that carries it along effortlessly.
Don Conoscenti is one of those artists who falls through the cracks of mainstream music because he doesn't just colour outside the line but sometimes steps across it to another, very different place. That's a real shame, because the mainstream could use an infusion of just such a difference.
Discover the world of Don Conoscenti at www.donconoscenti.com. There you will find a few clips of live performances, lyrics to all the songs on Paradox of Grace, and other interesting information.
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Review written: March 8, 2005
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