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Darkness and Light Reviews Nashville-by-way-of-Portland singer-songwriter John Bunzow's Darkness and Light is a blues-infused roots-rock record, a well-produced collection of eleven songs rooted in traditions, yet stylistically and lyrically it offers up more than your average roots-rock record. The dusty country grooves alongside the burning rock 'n' roll fever, catapulted by Bunzow's love for blues and R&B, make this a rich, lively album to sink yourself into as Bunzow wins you over song after song. From free-for-all
rock 'n' roll jaunts to tender, laid back numbers, Bunzow covers
the gamut, opening up himself to you through the music. Meanwhile,
he keeps things cohesive enough that you know its him, but diverse
enough to ensure you don't grow tired or weary of the album. The
result is a fine tuned, strong piece of roots-rock that will put
a smile on your face and give you at least one reason to believe
Nashville hasn't killed the soul of roots music. I'll give it an
A-. The swampy roots-country
groove of the leading track "Love Is The Only Rescue"
suggests more than a live basement studio recording from a Portland,
Oregon native singer/songwriter making it in Nashville with a kick
ass band. It cuts through to the soul to suggest that there is one
heck of a great record to follow. And it does deliver the goods!
Darkness And Light expresses solid songwriting through an organic
and vibrant direct to tape performance. Bunzow's songs easily sway
from rich country rumblers and ballads to blues infused stingers.
Imagine Buddy Miller with hints of Robbie Fulks in his easier moments.
Years of performance experience (he's slung guitar for Chris Knight
and Allison Moorer) and noteworthy critical praise as a Nashville
songwriter are quite evident here. An unlucky label dissolve in
'96 put one potential release back in the can but we're sure that
Darkness And Light will bring John Bunzow the success he deserves.
“No longer
a regularly available treat to Portland audiences since he moved
to Nashville several years ago, Bunzow thankfully comes back every
so often to remind us of his pointedly affecting songs and taut
guitar playing, both of which leaven country twang with blues’
grit and rock’s rhythmic drive.” “Not many
really knew about it, but there was a wave that crashed over the
plains and mountains from the great Northwest and landed in Middle
Tennessee about seven years ago. Not water, but musical talent…
A roots rocker of extraordinary talent, Bunzow came to town.” “…has
built a reputation as a songwriter with songs for Patti Loveless
(“Pieces on the Ground”), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
(“It’s About Time”), and Jack Ingram (“Ghost
of a Man”). Bunzow’s guitar playing skills are also
in demand, and he has recently worked with Chris Knight and Allison
Moorer.” “…one
of the best singer/songwriters in the business, a true song poet.” “John
Bunzow sings with more passion and resolve than ever.” “John
Bunzow’s music has an earthy country soul that’s highlighted
by his killer guitar-playing.”
A roots rocker of extraordinary talent, Bunzow came to town having spent his entire adult, post-college life playing original music in Portland, Ore., and surrounding area music scenes. “I was always pretty lucky I didn’t have to play Top 40 or any of that crap,” remarked the 40-something-year-old. But desire took hold and told him to follow his heart to Nashville to pursue the big prize. After all, that was when Music Row was edgy, taking chances and expanding like a wet sponge. He came to town, signed a writing deal with EMI Publishing, and had some cuts with Patty Loveless, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Jack Ingram. “I had a good little run being able to write and got to play on the road with Chris Knight and Allison Moorer,” Bunzow said. He even garnered a deal with Liberty Records, now Capitol, under the helm of Jimmy Bowen. His record Stories of the Years, produced by Dwight Yoakam guitarist and producer Pete Anderson, never saw the light of day as new management purged the roster. Instead, Bunzow’s life imploded. The death of his mother, the end of his marriage, and innumerable pitfalls led him to give in and give up on music. He became a teacher and house painter, earning an honest dollar for the first time in his life. But like all storms, this turbulent one passed and the music returned. He continued to drift back to play gigs back home in Portland, foregoing Nashville’s apathetic live scene, thus never appearing on anyone’s local radar. “This town is really not geared toward the live music scene, and I don’t know why that is,” he said. “I guess I just kept a pretty low profile around here.” It was the Portland connection that placed Bunzow’s latest recordings, produced and engineered by Brian David Willis in his basement studio in Nashville, in the hands of Portland-based Sideburn Records. The title of the CD Darkness and Light is apropos of his tumultuous years. As such, he wanted the recording to stay as raw as his experience. “We cut it live. I had the guitar in my hands while singing. The vocals and guitar solos went down as they were. We didn’t cut and paste at all. There are a couple songs where the tuning is a little dicey, but I was so burned out on publishing demos and how everything has to be so polite and sterilized. I wanted the rough edges showing.” While there are edges, it’s far from craggy in nature. The CD bounces along with titillating solos and vocal phrasing that can only come when someone feels it in their gut. From the country/blues shuffle of “Love Is the Only Rescue” and “Corner of Darkness and Light” — with Jimmy Hall providing some stellar backing vocals and harmonica playing — to the powerful and moody Allison Moorer-accompanied “Pieces on the Ground” and mournful “Choices Come Easy” — featuring mournful slide guitar work from Ray Kennedy — there is not a single bad track on this entire record. For Americana
and roots music fans, this is as scintillating as it gets. But as
for seeing Bunzow live, well you better live in the Northwest. The
only gigs he has planned so far lay beyond the Mississippi. However,
Bunzow hopes to play around Nashville soon. Like he said, “I’ve
just got to get reconnected here.” |