bob burger: cymbals at dawn. review by alan haber. buhdge

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Cymbals at Dawn Bob Burger Big Brave Music (2004) Lovers of acoustic-based, harmony-laden pop. steeped in the traditions of sixties and seventies artists such as James Taylor and the Eagles and teeming with hooks, will find Bob Burger's Cymbals at Dawn the answer to their prayers. Burger's straightforward approach to songwriting, coupled with some of the most expressive lead vocals this side of Glen Burtnik, whose voice Burger's resembles, informs Cymbals' dozen songs with more heart than most complete albums possess. Interestingly, Burger is a frequent co-writer of Burtnik's; their widescreen "My Crowning Achievement," which first appeared on Burtnik's Palookaville, also appears here in a stripped-down, wholly wonderful version. Most impressive is how this album's songs channel influences far and wide, from folk to singer-songwriter, from sixties and seventies melodic pop to country to rock and beyond, and cross the finish line with a unique sound that is Burger's own. Tracks like "Not Even You," a song about high responsibility in a relationship, are that much more powerful because of Burger's commanding lead vocal, which ably communicates the pain in the narrator's voice. Commenting on a woman's mashing-up of relationships, he lays out the facts like a hungry news reporter on the scene, getting caught up in the story, all this against a pretty melody. Yin-yang, and all the better for it. Most impressive The medium-paced waltz, "Don't Send a Girl," is one of this album's highlights. Once again, Burger's commanding voice is the vessel for this Bob Dylan-meets-Bob Burger story about the dangers of sending the wrong person to deliver a message ("Don't send a girl, to do a woman's job.") Opener "Madalynn," the story of the fleeting presence of a flawed muse who lives in the moment, is another classic song on an album overflowing with them. The album's closer, "Deadly Serious," centered around a chuggin' lick played with abandon on an acoustic guitar, is the kicker. The only unfortunate thing about it is that the wild and wooly electric guitar solo just ends, as does the song, kind of just there; I would have preferred another 20 minutes or so of rockin' (or at least a longer fade)...oh, well. I guess I'm just going to have to see Bob perform this song live, where I'm sure that solo will go on into the wee hours. A home run all the way, Cymbals at Dawn stands tall as a contender for this year's top 10 albums, regardless of genre. And, as Burger proves in these 46 minutes, great music transcends genres, or, perhaps, creates new genres where necessary. So, what we have here must be...Burgeresque! Alan Haber buhdge September 6, 2004
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Cymbals at Dawn
Bob Burger
Big Brave Music (2004)

Bob Burger's Cymbals at Dawn Lovers of acoustic-based, harmony-laden pop. steeped in the traditions of sixties and seventies artists such as James Taylor and the Eagles and teeming with hooks, will find Bob Burger's Cymbals at Dawn the answer to their prayers.

Burger's straightforward approach to songwriting, coupled with some of the most expressive lead vocals this side of Glen Burtnik, whose voice Burger's resembles, informs Cymbals' dozen songs with more heart than most complete albums possess. Interestingly, Burger is a frequent co-writer of Burtnik's; their widescreen "My Crowning Achievement," which first appeared on Burtnik's Palookaville, also appears here in a stripped-down, wholly wonderful version.

Most impressive is how this album's songs channel influences far and wide, from folk to singer-songwriter, from sixties and seventies melodic pop to country to rock and beyond, and cross the finish line with a unique sound that is Burger's own. Tracks like "Not Even You," a song about high responsibility in a relationship, are that much more powerful because of Burger's commanding lead vocal, which ably communicates the pain in the narrator's voice. Commenting on a woman's mashing-up of relationships, he lays out the facts like a hungry news reporter on the scene, getting caught up in the story, all this against a pretty melody. Yin-yang, and all the better for it. Most impressive

The medium-paced waltz, "Don't Send a Girl," is one of this album's highlights. Once again, Burger's commanding voice is the vessel for this Bob Dylan-meets-Bob Burger story about the dangers of sending the wrong person to deliver a message ("Don't send a girl, to do a woman's job.") Opener "Madalynn," the story of the fleeting presence of a flawed muse who lives in the moment, is another classic song on an album overflowing with them.

The album's closer, "Deadly Serious," centered around a chuggin' lick played with abandon on an acoustic guitar, is the kicker. The only unfortunate thing about it is that the wild and wooly electric guitar solo just ends, as does the song, kind of just there; I would have preferred another 20 minutes or so of rockin' (or at least a longer fade)...oh, well. I guess I'm just going to have to see Bob perform this song live, where I'm sure that solo will go on into the wee hours.

A home run all the way, Cymbals at Dawn stands tall as a contender for this year's top 10 albums, regardless of genre. And, as Burger proves in these 46 minutes, great music transcends genres, or, perhaps, creates new genres where necessary. So, what we have here must be...Burgeresque!

Alan Haber
buhdge
September 6, 2004