Singer/songwriter Steve Grout (http://www.stevegrout.com) surprised me.
Expecting a folk record, Steve Grout actually experiments with a number of styles, never staying within the acoustic-rock format, which is impressive and commendable.
At first, Grout recalls Cat Stevens on "Anything You Want," a slow, plaintive number that crackles like vintage vinyl. By the second cut, though, Grout is leaving us in the dust, copping a sinewy blues riff on the title track that sizzles the speakers. And Grout continues to have more up his sleeve, opting for a country flavor on "Forget About Me" and then echoing the piano-based narratives of Randy Newman on "There Is Nothing," the best track on the album.
I wish I could describe Grout's voice, but he sings differently throughout the record, depending on the style of the song. On the energetic "Ride" and the twangy "What Kind of Dreams," there's no trace of the Stevens influence from the opener. Musically, Grout is entering Tom Petty territory, that hook-driven mix of country and classic rock.
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Almost like a chameleon, Grout shifts colours. The Leonard Cohen-ish dark shadows on "Before It Rains" seems like they emanate from another artist. While this may seem schizophrenic, it actually makes the album even more exciting, strung together mainly by the consistency of its songwriting.
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