DAVID OLNEY

Film Noir

2011-05-24

On "Film Noir," a concept EP, David Olney evokes a gritty, Big-City-After-Dark disquiet. Equal parts lonely bluesman and method actor - Johhny Cash and Leon Redbone and Tom Waits - Olney creates songs like little movies based on grimy, dog eared paperbacks. These brand new songs all sound as if they were found, covered in dust, in a back alley Used Record Store. "Frank is Gone" is a jangly blues shuffle like an anxious junky walking the streets. If Cab Calloway had lost it all and traded his white tux for a torn felt hat and barn coat, he would sing "Blue Moon Hotel." "$20 Serenade," nearly an homage to Tom Waits street characters, is an ancient sounding gimp walk tragedy with a B-movie twist. "Blues Don't Care" and "Sunset on Sunset Boulevard" are both hollow, lonely songs to steal your joy. Reviewed By: Todd Townsend.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 06/2009

    LEVON HELM
    ELECTRIC DIRT

  • reviewed 01/2010

    DAPHNE WILLIS
    What to Say

  • reviewed 03/2011

    CAHALEN MORRISON & ELI WEST
    THE HOLY COMING OF THE STORM

  • reviewed 09/2015

    Shannon & the Clams
    Gone By The Dawn

  • reviewed 01/2006

    KAREN SAVOCA
    In the Dirt

  • reviewed 01/2011

    ABIGAIL WASHBURN
    City of Refuge

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.