It is always an extremely pleasant surprise when something comes across the inbox and you immediately love it. Gar Clemens hits that notion for me from the first note.

There is an openness to the music on the Chicago based songwriters latest release “Cricket Hill”. Take Dylan when he is singing at his prime, then polish it up just a bit more, rock it up a little, add some more depth in the dreamscape of arrangements, and you get this record. Dreamlike or almost a floating trance kind of a vibe is a constant in the 9 tracks of the record, and I have no complaints about that fact. It makes the listening really enjoyable and you delve deeper and deeper in the layers that can be peeled away from the songs contained within.

Clemens is earnest and grave in the way he delivers his sharp words. The title track of the project is solid indicator of that as he sings “the scorching of the jungle was fit into the bill / hypodermic needles pile up on Cricket Hill / and the victory of nothing is met with a parade / the schools are closed, the kids are bused away“. Listening in, this is the kind of writing I really dig into. The songwriter pens in a way that could be read from a book or listened to intently as you close your eyes in a dark room as needle scratches over the grooves of vinyl and the warmth of the song enters the dimly lit room. He evokes a feeling of urgency on songs like ‘Fire Weather’ and is balanced with the slow walking pace of ‘State Street Preacher’. I find that to be something I enjoy most listening to Gar. The balance that he relates sonically into this collection, but also in how he delivers some pretty heavy messages in his songs. Eased by the gentle nature of his voice, comforting almost, but the words still cut in a way that leaves a lasting scratch.

The recording, as whole, feels very natural. Like this experience could be recreated sitting in a living room over a whiskey, passing a guitar back and forth…but is dotted with surprising and impactful arrangements choices in percussion and ringing electric guitar chords. I really enjoy listening again and again. I feel at ease even with the nature of the lyrical content and slightly political themes that stitch the seams of his songs.

All being considered, I do believe that I may have found myself another new favorite writer outside of New England to add to my list of “play this constantly”. Check Gar Clemens out today. You will not regret it.