Glow
Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan
SCR/Schoolhouse Records
1998
14 tracks
Sometime late in the last century, a new musical category arose: Roots Rock. Beyond what is obvious in these two words, I've never been quite sure what how to define this music, how to differentiate it from other categories. Taking as it seems to from folk, rock, country, and old rock and roll, roots rock can appear redundant: an unnecessary further fragmentation in listeners' perception of music as a whole. Joe D'Urso bills himself as a roots rocker.
Falling somewhere into that Bermuda Triangle between Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and John Mellenkamp, D'Urso's music has a familiar feel that makes it a comfortable listen. But does the music sink under the waves of D'Urso's chosen genre's more famous practitioners. Good as it is, this music is perhaps too derivative.
The music is hard-driving rock and roll. For the most part, the lyrics tell interesting stories. Taken by itself this is a release that deserves a good listen. Taken in context of music calling itself roots rock, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan are not at the top of the pile. Although performing original work, these musicians still tend to sound like a Springsteen cover band. If there is work to be done, it is not on the quality but the originality of the writing and performance.
One interesting variation is that this group, while playing with a hard rock style, often incorporates that "jingle-jangle" sound so popular in Sixties folk-rock. It's a welcome relief to hear this sharp, bright sound break through the din. It's like sunshine on a rainy day.
"You're The Reason" is one of those songs with that "jingle-jangle" effect so popular with groups such as The Birds or Sonny and Cher, but it goes further. The "jingle-jangle" plus the melody of the first, second, and final verses are all highly evocative of the hit song, "All I Really Want To Do" first released 35 years ago.
Like much American poetry of the second half of the 20th century, D'Urso's lyrics avoid a poetic feel, leaning more toward a conversational, storytelling style. While D'Urso claims such diverse influences as Harry Chapin and Leonard Cohen, I hear in his lyrics more of Springsteen or Bob Seger. In fact, "Leonard Cohen" sounds as though the words and music might have been written by Seger in another era. Whatever the influences, these lyrics stand up well.
Even with its weaknesses, Glow is a release fans of this type of music, including me, will enjoy owning. On the negative side, none of these songs stands out as exceptional and it feels as though D'Urso has yet to find his unique voice as a songwriter. On the positive side, he and his band Stone Caravan are first rate musicians who put out a solid sound.
If I'm giving out a mixed message, it's because I get the sense that this man is capable of so much more. Would I recommend buying the CD? Yes.
For more information on Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, visit their home on the internet.
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Review Written: May 11, 2000
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