Like a glass of lemonade and a story on a summer day, CommonUnion59’s “Heartbeat Serenade,†is all about the company you keep during such a routine endeavor.
Today’s music landscape seems to have fallen in love with stripped down performances- where it’s indeed all about the stories being told, rather than lavish production. In terms of pure storytelling, CommonUnion59 doesn’t change the Americana-Folk recipe, however they are able to deliver a hearty-helping of tunes that at times, feel like two different albums thanks to their different vocal styles, before ultimately lending themselves to a body of work that drives home a singular message- lyrics still matter.
Thanks to that emotional ballad writing, solid musicianship and superior vocal harmonizing, the San Francisco duo’s album works masterfully at times. The kind of album for the road, it’ll inspire recollection of your own travels, love and loss and most importantly, your own introspection.
At the end of the album, it’s obvious Steve McKenzie and Laura Malasig do an awesome job of gleaning off another. Whether it be through their own vocal harmonizing or McKenzie’s guitar work and Malasig’s addition of piano and glockenspiel, the sound is simple, but beautiful.
While the personal stories told in tracks “The River Song,†“It’s Alright†and “Little White House,†bring out the wonder in Malasig’s Natalie Merchant/Bonnie Rait-esque vocals, as well as her songwriting capabilities, the band’s cover of Donvan’s classic “Catch the Wind,†showcases their combined talents perfectly. The easily recognizable track is reborn thanks to Malasig’s heartwarming performance, as well as McKenzie’s flawless guitar work and backup vocal work. Definitely a noteworthy version of a track covered countless times, CommonUnion59 essentially make it their own here.
More than just a folk/Americana band however, “From Where We Are,†proves the band can rock too. Behind the classic male/female back and forth and sexy guitar licks from McKenzie, CommonUnion59 are the type of band that can play in a coffee house, or a bar. This track though is easily one that can thrive on Lite Rock radio. While it’s not the most thought-provoking of the tracks, it’s got all the pieces you want in a radio friendly hit- easy to sing along to lyrics, guitar lines that make you want to imaginarily.
In the end, between the folky ballads and the sometimes vast differences between McKenzie’s more Dream Pop tracks and the warmth of Malasig’s warmer pieces, CommonUnion59 is able to strike enough of the right chords to make “Heartbeat Serenade†do exactly that.
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