Now It's Tomorrow

Album review

There is a temptation to consider Randall Bramblett's seventh solo album a continuation of his last, 2006's impressive Rich Someday. He sticks with the identical band, drummer/producer (Gerry Hanson), and Atlanta-based studio. It's even mixed by the same person. The songs are likewise a comparable set of dusky, thought-provoking funky/jazzy Southern ballads and midtempo rockers based around multi-instrumentalist Bramblett's smoky voice, keys, acoustic guitar, and occasional reeds. While some might complain that this similarly styled disc finds Bramblett treading water, his performance and the songs are strong enough to justify a follow-up to his previous release. The sound is often harder here, with rockers such as "Mess About It" pushing Bramblett's vocals into falsetto as the band churns out tough, psychedelicized licks. The opening drumbeat sets the tone for "Sun Runs," a somewhat tortured love song that establishes the disc's sober qualities. The mix of Steely Dan-styled jazz piano and rock percussion on "Blue Road" is another Bramblett trait, perhaps acquired when he worked with Steve Winwood both in and out of Traffic. It's extremely effective, especially played against his frisky words and singalong "doo doo doo" chorus. There's still an overriding sense of darkness to the mood, both musically and lyrically, as he sings "I'm not sure where I'm going now/All my direction was taken from me" on the minor-key "Visions." The cautionary "You Better Move" has Bramblett warning a friend to come out of his shell and get psychological help, all against a driving, funky backbeat. It's not an easy album to warm up to, but like his last one, additional spins help heighten the appreciation of Bramblett's generally shadowy themes set against pensive, winding melodies. Tunes such as the contemplative "Don't Waste Your Time" need to work their way into your brain but once they do, they stick around. The closing melancholy ballad "Where a Life Goes" reiterates the yellow/sun motif of the opening track, giving the disc a circular feel and encouraging the listener to return to an album best appreciated with lyric sheet in hand.

© Hal Horowitz /TiVo