Jon Allen – Dead Man’s Suit

• 13th Mar 2009

I am glad stuff like this exists, it gives me the reason to believe that there has to be something better out there to listen to. It’s staple singer / songwriter fare which makes the Blunster into Metallica. Why people who ply this trade cant be creative and take the lead of Sufjan Stevens and Conor Oberst is at best lamentable.

The 12 tracks on this album are country / acoustic tinged but plod along at a mid paced tedium that belies belief. I know there is a market for this and it meanders in the collection of people who consider David Gray to be a musical phenomenon.

The arrangement is honest enough and Jon even lays on his Rod Stewart Falsetto in ‘Happy Now’ but the kookyness of tracks is at times smug and somewhat forced. The lyrics are all lovely dovey and perfect crying material based around longing for someone: ‘Take me to heart’. ‘Lay your burden down’ is…. Hang on, I’ve got so bored I’ve almost dropped off in disbelief here. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz