It may be cliché, but love is powerful a powerful thing. The way it makes you feel, the expression of it and how it can inspire others is incredible. You don’t need to take my word for it, though, because Pat Guadagno’s album “1964” can show you just how powerful love is. It can be felt from the first track on the album and never quits until it’s all over.
“Violets of Dawn” kicks the album off. An instantly warm aesthetic is established with the busy, stringy guitar plucks that are cradled nicely by the deep bass. The serene vocals of Pat Guadagno are enchanting and dances with the guitar with a grace that must be heard to be believed. These vocals compliment the tender lyrics, making lines such as “there’s magic in the sleepiness awakening to a childish-sounding yawn” feel like a burst of comforting emotional power. It all comes together to create a fantastic air of welcoming whimsy that feels like the perfect welcome for the listener to create an opening that will leave a smile on your face after just one listen.
“Boots and Spanish Leather” is an incredible track. The busy pulls of the guitar strings are instantly engrossing and creates the perfect aesthetic when combined with the soft horns. Mary McCrink’s vocals are as beautiful as they are powerful as the emotion effortlessly leaves her lips, creating an incredible counterpart to Guadagno’s and forces the stronger side of his vocals to rise to their occasion. Lines such as “Oh how can, how can you ask me again? It only brings me sorrow. The same thing that I would want from you today, I would want again tomorrow” perfectly illustrate the power of her mind-blowing vocals. It all combines to make “Boots and Spanish Leather” a listen that you won’t soon forget.
“And I Love Her” is a stand-out track. The soft bassline cradles the airy guitars. The clapping percussion gives the perfect pulse to the track, grounding it just enough so that Guadagno’s warm vocals take the reigns to deliver his signature heartfelt charm. From the top, lines such as “I give her all my love, that’s what I do. And if you saw my love, you’d love her, too” are full of love and charm that makes “And I Love Her” an unforgettable love song.
“Because” is another great listen. The bouncy guitars are inviting and make a great first impression. The melody is intoxicating and will loosen your body up as you sway to the music. The vocals are as tender as the lyrics, which are full of love and bursting with the signature warm emotional power that the album is built on. While “Because” takes on a bit more of a ramblin’ bluesy aesthetic, the lyrics still put love front and center. This is reflected in the chorus, in lines such as “give me one kiss and I’ll be happy. Just, just to be with you” that invoke these bluesy inspirations, making “Because” a stand-out track on the album with a personality all its own.
“Chimes Of Freedom” closes the album out. The soft plucks of the guitar give a brief intro before the bass enters alongside the vocals of Pat Guadagno. With a raspier vocal aesthetic, Guadagno tells heavy-hearted stories of those who strive to create a better world. The contemplative instrumental aesthetic creates a powerful atmosphere for lines such as “tollin’ for the searchin’ ones, on their speechless seeking trail. For the lonesome-hearted lovers with too personal a tale.” “Chimes of Freedom” lets the album end on a soft-hearted note, but one that leaves the listener with a sense that everyone needs a little of the love that “1964” is trying to give.
“1964” is an album whose heart does all the talking. From start to finish, Pat Guadagno and his band deliver track after track of tender songs that are impossible to pull yourself away from, especially on the first listen. Each one brings the love in its own way, making it hard to choose a favorite, especially when Guadagno’s incredibly warm-hearted vocals deliver such emotional power so effortlessly. It all adds up to make “1964” an easy album to recommend to anyone.
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