The widely circulated story about Robert Francis, apocryphal as it might be, is that he was, at the age of 9, given his first guitar by Ry Cooder. If anything did rub off on Francis with this exchange, it is the languorous, dusty tone that shines through a good chunk of Cooder’s work. Take that away and what is left is the glossy reverb-heavy sound that makes up much of the roots-y rock coming out of L.A. of late. What helps Francis stand out from that congested pack, however, is an appreciable lightness of touch. Even the most upbeat songs, like the rambling lead single “Junebug” or the heat vapors of “I Like The Air”, would be trenchant stompers in lesser hands, but here are wrapped in a smoky atmospherics befitting songs born in a city of smog and wildfires.
Yet, just as his biographers use the Cooder story to provide some context for his music, Francis tries too hard to stick to the templates provided by his forebears. There’s the creepy Dylan impression that he delves into on the acoustic closing number “Do What I Can” and his warbling version of a Scott Walker production on “Hallways”. Whether he’s achieved his talent by osmosis or by pure skill, Francis has the goods to be a talent of note, but he has to learn to rely on the strength of his own voice if he’s going to get anywhere.
First off, Robert is not trying to be like anyone else but himself. He has specifically stated that he does not sound, or doesn’t mean to sound, like Bob Dylan. He is completely raw and original; my favorite singer of all time for those exact reasons.
Also, check your grammar ‘to’. It’s with two o’s.
Nice try.
September 8th, 2011 at 9:58 amHi Myriam, I thought Bob Ham’s review was a strong one, sorry you disagree. As for the grammar issue I don’t see where the word “too” would have shown up. I’m sure you’ll correct me if I’m wrong.
Thanks for the comment.
September 8th, 2011 at 10:05 amI see the to/too error, Myriam and Dave. It’s in the first sentence of the second paragraph. That’s a spelling issue – not a grammar one. My apologies for not catching that when I published this review…almost two years ago.
September 8th, 2011 at 10:56 amFixed the error. And as for the Dylan comparison – whether he intended to do it or not, that’s what it sounded like to my ears. And really any artist that creates music is going to sound like their influences no matter how much they bend them to their own interests and style. That’s the nature of art.
Glad to hear you’re a fan! I liked the disc fine, just not enough to warrant many repeat listenings. I’ll have to dig it up and give it another listen.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:03 amYeah sorry I sounded so harsh, I just adore him!
October 11th, 2011 at 10:00 amMaybe you will appreciate his new upcoming album!