Album Review: Roots – Daniel Lee
10 years ago Liv Carter 5
Roots – Daniel Lee (2014, Average Joes Entertainment)
Average Joes Entertainment artist Daniel Lee is releasing his debut album at an interesting time for country music. With the genre seemingly splitting into evermore diverse streams of influence, he is entering the arena with a disc that shuns many of the current stylistic must-haves in favor of simplicity. Painting a picture of who he is, and where and how he grew up, the album is aptly titled Roots. The redneck anthems, though prominent, are in the minority, and the main subjects are love and life.
“I like the words to ‘Amazing Grace,’ and I like the way whiskey and sweet tea taste,” he sings to open ‘Complain,’ and in two phrases he identifies his faith, his southernness, and his taste for the occasional vice. Straightforward, plain English statements like this contribute to the album’s honesty, and are combined with creative comparisons and imagery-filled turns of phrase – the mark of a still-developing but talented songwriter.
‘Slow Down Town,’ a co-write with Kip Moore collaborator Dan Couch, evokes life in a small town without passing judgment on those who never move beyond its limits. Though lyrically light, ‘Head over Heels’ is lifted by an honest delivery that charmingly translates the excitement and apprehension that goes along with falling in love. A love-interest is enticed with “honky-tonking and Georgia red clay stomping” to try out the ‘Redneck Routine’ life. ‘For Sale Sign’ laments a broken heart from a creative angle, while ‘To Me’ and ‘Love It All’ add the romance and charm of young love.
A particular stand-out is Brantley Gilbert co-write, and hopefully future radio single, ‘Struggleville.’ It perfectly encapsulates the struggle of trying to improve your situation. Clear guitars and airy fiddle keep the song from being weighed down, and by representing this struggle as a physical place you can leave, the song ends on hope rather than despair.
The elements of the young, male experience of growing up in the south, which many listeners have soured on, feel authentic enough here, but there are some minuses. Some songs, in the choruses especially, drift close to the shopworn script of southern country-rock, and where is the female character in ‘Hell Yeah’? In the kitchen. Of course. Also, to compete in today’s radio market, the disc may be a little light on swagger and bravado, but then again, I consider it a plus that Lee is remaining who he is.
This ‘what you see is what you get’ attitude was also applied to the production. No loops or heavy beats, no distracting sound effects, as producers Shannon Houchins and Noah Gordon only added as much to the material as needed. The minimal percussion and dusty drums only lightly support the acoustic guitars on ‘For Sale Sign,’ while a biting guitar riff adds some weight to ‘Rebel.’ The uncomplicated arrangements keep enough details on the periphery to keep it sonically interesting without overcrowding the songs.
With a strong debut that does a great job of establishing an identity for him, Daniel Lee is starting his recording career off right.
Roots will be available from digital retailers on July 22, 2014.
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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