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With cover art that mimics Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin' right down to the typeface, One by One demands (and, perhaps, deserves) to become a staple of the modern-day folk catalog. Nineteen-year-old Robert Francis is already impressively self-sufficient, playing nearly ever instrument -- from guitar to glockenspiel -- on this self-produced debut. It would be an understatement to say that Francis' musicianship belies his young age, as some of One's best songs already harbor the rustic, world-weary quality that many artists spend their careers cultivating. Whether or not Francis has actually experienced the pastoral blues that color his lyrics is beyond the point; his dusty baritone and heartland imagery make the potential fib worthwhile. From the right-handed piano twinkles of opener "Mama Don't Come" to the gorgeously hypnotic, looping closer, there's an airy sense of space to these ten songs. Even the album's most ornate material -- the seven-minute title track, perhaps, with its climax of co-ed vocals and sweeping violin -- is allotted enough room to breathe. When the orchestration becomes lush, Francis usually swoops in with a musical reprieve, be it a momentary break in a riff's rhythm or a touch of reverb to widen the sound. Even more interesting is his love for subtle, esoteric flourishes: a dog barking in the middle of "The Devil's Mountains," right before the bluesy pedal steel gives way to mariachi horns; delayed violin in verse two of "Little Girl"; the church-like harmonies in "Dakota." It's impressive proof that Francis' self-appointment as producer isn't the result of some youthful ego trip, but rather the most logical choice for a penny-pinched teenager -- or, for that matter, anyone whose music mirrors these rustic folk-pop strains. Dylan it ain't, but One by One is one solid debut.
© Andrew Leahey /TiVo
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Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Robert Francis, MainArtist
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
Album review
With cover art that mimics Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin' right down to the typeface, One by One demands (and, perhaps, deserves) to become a staple of the modern-day folk catalog. Nineteen-year-old Robert Francis is already impressively self-sufficient, playing nearly ever instrument -- from guitar to glockenspiel -- on this self-produced debut. It would be an understatement to say that Francis' musicianship belies his young age, as some of One's best songs already harbor the rustic, world-weary quality that many artists spend their careers cultivating. Whether or not Francis has actually experienced the pastoral blues that color his lyrics is beyond the point; his dusty baritone and heartland imagery make the potential fib worthwhile. From the right-handed piano twinkles of opener "Mama Don't Come" to the gorgeously hypnotic, looping closer, there's an airy sense of space to these ten songs. Even the album's most ornate material -- the seven-minute title track, perhaps, with its climax of co-ed vocals and sweeping violin -- is allotted enough room to breathe. When the orchestration becomes lush, Francis usually swoops in with a musical reprieve, be it a momentary break in a riff's rhythm or a touch of reverb to widen the sound. Even more interesting is his love for subtle, esoteric flourishes: a dog barking in the middle of "The Devil's Mountains," right before the bluesy pedal steel gives way to mariachi horns; delayed violin in verse two of "Little Girl"; the church-like harmonies in "Dakota." It's impressive proof that Francis' self-appointment as producer isn't the result of some youthful ego trip, but rather the most logical choice for a penny-pinched teenager -- or, for that matter, anyone whose music mirrors these rustic folk-pop strains. Dylan it ain't, but One by One is one solid debut.
© Andrew Leahey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:27
- Main artists: Robert Francis
- Label: Robert Francis
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Country
(C) 2007 Robert Francis (P) 2007 Robert Francis
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