Customer Reviews

All My Strange Companions

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Freddie Stevenson is the next great folk poet. I could not feel this more strongly. Recently in NYC I caught one of the British singer-songwriter's gigs and was blown away. He is a tremendous showman.

I have not found a more satisfying album top to bottom in recent memory. Stevenson's sound while entirely fresh and unlike anything I have heard, evokes a warm familiarity on the ears. Like a cardigan given to you by the lost love of your life, when worn, one can't help but be reminded of Paris or that magic first kiss or that love poem you still keep safe, such feelings are conjured through these 11 accomplished songs. Glints of Dylan's gruff rock-and-roll, threads of Joni Mitchell's phrasing and poetry and the shine of Paul Simon's sweet melodies are at play, but the virtues of these influences exponentially multiply into something extent; that is Stevenson's whole is greater than the sum of his parts. Wit and wordsmithery unlike any other musician I have heard in an age. With "All My Strange Companions" Stevenson kicks down the door only to then politely introduce himself to the greater muso intellegentsia and we are all greater for it.

Though you may have yet to hear of him, take the plunge, I promise your first date with Stevenson won't be your last.

Freddie caught my attention in NYC a few months ago and I've been looking forward to his new record coming out ever since. Needless to say, it doesn't disappoint. Freddie combines hard nosed rocking in tracks like Easy Now and Ordinary Girl with poignant tales of longing in tracks like Photographs and the totally amazing Alibi Song. It's hard to summarise Freddie's music beyond saying he is a consummate lyricist whose writing style brilliantly straddles a spectrum of musical influences. I can't recommend Freddie and this record more.