Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
 |
Rating: 4 / 5 Reviewer: Andrew Mitchell |
Anyone familiar with Cortés Alexander’s association with such renowned vocal groups as The Tonics or the Cortés Alexander Trio will expect a release from him to be filled with intricate, stylish harmonies. And there is no shortage of them here. But on his first solo effort, Swell, Alexander has taken a leap of faith by combining his skill for vocal harmony with various musical genres. That said, he’s come up with some satisfying results.
Moments into the album, you’ve already been taken on a road trip of musical tastes with the seductive Latin-infused ‘Every Other Thought,’ the playful lounge vibe of ‘Marguerite’ and a crooner take on the acoustic indie hit, ‘Any Day Now.’ You have to wonder whether Alexander is out to prove his musical agility or is just aiming to please everybody. It’s no surprise then that he includes an infectious dance tune in the form of ‘It’s All Right.’ Even the most dance-averse will find it hard to resist this one. And then there’s “Parade,” with its muted trumpet, sorrowful harmonies, particularly personal and revelatory lyrics, and a shot to the gut when he switches it up with a piercing falsetto run in the final refrain.
But it’s on the numerous covers where Alexander most readily displays his skill. A hard-driven version of The Monkees’ ‘Last Train to Clarksville’ boasts a wonderful, unexpected choral riff, and the B-52′s campy ‘Roam’ is reinvigorated here with a sophisticated lounge beat and layered harmonies. And when Alexander brings out the candlelight and wine for a Marvin Gaye-inspired take on The Association’s ‘Never My Love,’ his mellifluous falsetto brings new life to an old song.
You’d think the listener would be more than satiated by Swell’s 16 songs, but there’s little in the way of filler here. Like the feeling evoked by the open-ended refrain of ‘If I Only Had a Brain,’ you’ll be left waiting and wanting more.
