This is nice light stuff with an easy grace. HOWIE BECK has a gentle touch on guitar, production, vocal energy and lyrics. The chances of being stunned by this single, if you aren’t already a devotee, are close to zero (the word "stunning" appeared in a couple of early reviews, but I can’t hear the provocation myself).
"Don’t Be Afraid" (with its two mixes) and "Alice" appear on the well-received album released early this year. A cover of The Strokes' "Reptillia" is a new release. Set together like this, Beck's own songwriting stands a level or two higher than Casablancas. Its an odd choice, but an interesting item.
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Ed Harcourt adds some background vocals on the main track.
The radio edit of "Don’t Be Afraid" substitutes ". ..if you're all messed up" where the album has the pointless and flaccid " ...if you're all fucked up". As if it made any difference.
The musical highlight is an emotionally rich horn part on "Alice" – played, like each of the other instruments, by HOWIE BECK himself. I have a feeling (I'm not 100% sure) it’s played on a synth keyboard. But the effect is still pretty sweet.
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