Categories : Folk + Roots, Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 2.5 / 5 Reviewer: Kevin Hartford |
Most of the songs on True Devotion are little more than Seattle folk singer Rocky Votolato’s voice over an acoustic guitar. While the stripped-down production does create a certain amount of intimacy between artist and listener, it also has the unintended side effect of showcasing how unexceptional Votolato is as a musician. Devotion is a decent-enough listen, but there’s nothing distinctive or memorable about it.
The album’s first four tracks – ‘Lucky Clover Coin,’ ‘Fragments,’ ‘Red River,’ and ‘Eyes Like Static’ – are almost interchangeable: generic lyrics over nonthreatening guitars. Working with a full band would have helped considerably here. Bass and drums are either absent or are so quiet they’re almost unnoticeable. It shouldn’t feel like the listener is being tossed a life raft when a harmonica makes an appearance on ‘Instrument’ or a piano is heard on ‘Sun Devil.’ A backup vocal track by someone other than Votolato would have been a welcome addition, too.
Votolato’s music comes to life only when he deviates from the (relative) norm. He dials things down on “Sparklers” and the end result is contemplative and pretty. He layers what sounds like half a dozen vocal tracks, dueling guitars, and a tambourine on the thoughtful ‘Don’t Be Angry.’ The album’s final track, ‘Where We Started,’ is both emotive and reserved, ending on a half-minute of string music that gives the song emotional weight.
Devotion is only 34 minutes long, but the repetitiveness and borderline anonymity of its songs can make it a slog to get through. If this was a live album, Votolato playing solo to a small pub or coffeehouse, it might have worked. As it stands, it’s background music at best.
