Joel R.L. Phelps : The Downer Trio - 3 mp3 download

Ghile

THE LOW KEY introspective quality of these ten harrowing unanswered songs struggling into life on clouds of doubt and reasoning cares - bare little or no resemblance to PHELPS contributions as a member of Silkworm circa "Libertine" days. As Blake once said - Fear and Hope are - Vision.In "Hope's Hit:" 'I'm as blown as the barflies in this town... / ...I'm as thin as the dress you got on' - portraits his fears subtly as he does throughout the better part of the record but that is not to say that this record is a downer as the moniker intends to conclude. Phelps' lyricism and uncomplicated rhythms sculpt a personal restraint - less is more.The sweet sounding "Who Can I Burn" is crisp and clear in it's delivery accented heartbreakingly by Phelps unique vocals (held in check till we get to the aggressive shrill of "Fifty"); pedal steel guitar and solitary acoustic "americana" guitar strum. Mixed evenly throughout the album are upbeat snappy rhythms like "Always Glide" "Rev. Robert Irving" or "Alita Aleta:" 'Torn a hole out of your spirit place' - adding words that seem to contradict the melody.If you're looking for something to replace your sadness or just plain feel the "need to bleed" - THE DOWNER TRIO's third album to date may be just the prescription you've been waiting for.