Lo metto qui che faccio prima eh eh eh

Great album. Wrong title…giusto per metter ulteriore carne sul fuoco di questo blog.

Ali Eskandarian – Nothing To Say [Wildflower, 2008]

tracklist:
1. Waking Up Is Hard To Do
2. Memphis
3. All We Do
4. Black Tar Man
5. Dangerous Road
6. Government Meat
7. Nobody
8. Her Red Leather Hat
9. Johnny Goes To War
10. Eastern Fancy

Great album. Wrong title.

The debut album by Eskandarian was originally due for release back in March 2008, but for whatever reason, it has only just surfaced.

Of Iranian descent, Eskandarian skilfully weaves in Eastern influences into his pot pourri of country blues, folk and Americana. ‘Eastern Fancy’ demonstrates his Persian influences and incorporates simple guitar picking with mosque type wailing vocals that work. ‘Nobody’ continues in a similar vein with the Eastern vibe pinning down the song.

The first single ‘ Government Meat’ is a country blues number, concentrating on some slide on an acoustic guitar. However it’s not the strongest song on this album and isn’t representative of what this album is all about. Any of the first four tracks, ‘Waking Up Is Hard To Do’, ‘Memphis’, ‘All We Do’ or ‘Black Tar Man’ would have been better choices.

‘Waking Up Is Hard To Do’ kicks off the track list with a poppy Dylan style harmonica that sets the standard of what’s to follow. ‘Memphis’ is a simple number where Eskandarian brings in some electric slide guitar as the background that provides the resonance his voice works well against, telling the story of a wanderer who keeps returning to this magical city.

‘All We Do’ could have been sung by Jim Reeves. Again another simple song, with some swirling organ and a old style country flavour. ‘Black Tar Man’ brings to mind Jeff Buckley with a certain Jagger swagger. Yet again very simple but extremely powerful.

If you’ve ever felt down and who hasn’t? then ‘Dangerous Road’ outlines the things that some people are willing to go through to get back the people they’ve lost including threatening to kill themselves as their partner has now got together with someone else. Don’t listen to this with a broken heart or if you’re the hurt partner.

Despite the album title, Eskandarian has plenty to say. And he says it in a simple but well thought out and compelling way.
(americana-uk.com)

Per chi vuol provare un ascolto: http://www.myspace.com/alieskandarian