Americana and folk are genres that are drenched in soul. Not so much the genre, but the feeling, the notion that an artist is singing from the heart and telling real stories. The Liquorsmith’s new EP “This Book Belongs To†is an EP, that in spite of its lack of a real catchy track, is the type of album that never stops feeling real.
Powered by the Van Morrison-esque vocals of Drew Thams, the tracks have this comfy feel to them, resembling the type of coffee house crooning you’d hear in a San Francisco or Lower East Side coffee house. Those talents extend to the guitar as well as each track has a lick or two that draws you in. “Coy With Me†is a good example of this, as it’s simply a good story, with a smooth guitar line. Clayton Payne’s drum work is just as silky, making the song feel like a Blind Melon attempt at a ballad.
But like many of the tracks on the EP, it lacks a pure hook. It’s the type of song you’ll like, but you won’t have a part that’ll draw you in more than others. This hurts its overall radio appeal, but for those looking for an Americana act with more polish and “feel,†the Liquorsmiths have this in spades.
“Get Well Soon†is another track that has a great story. Feeling almost like a poem at times with lines like, “The hardest part of my day, is leaving, leaving the room in which you sleep, cause I sleep with you,†it quickly establishes an emotional connection with the listener. While this type of writing sometimes hurts their work (“Iris†rambles a bit too much and forgets itself amid its words) it works well here. The drum work on “Get Well Soon†is sharp, it’s the guitar work that sets up the pace and importance of the story. Again, smooth on vocals and polished on the guitar, Thams is able to draw you in. This time, however, with a clear hook, he shows casual Americana listeners he can adapt to a more conventional style.
Regardless of if Americana is your cup of coffee, The Liquorsmiths are an act that are hard to not respect. They’re not verbose and don’t waste time. The stories hit home and there aren’t many bells and whistles. It’s just good music.
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