Customer Reviews

Dewdrops

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of my favorites of the year. Smart songwriting, nice melodies. Comparisons to other artists (Smith, Drake, etc) are warranted and time will tell if Allen measures up to those guys.

Buy it. You'll like it. I swear.

Ashton Allen's Dewdrops is a powerful yet subtle insight into a world most can only speculate. It is like reading a good book chalked full of tragedy, hope, innocents, and a romantic tone that can only be translated through Ashton's soft yet intense vocals. This is only his debut and it is a masterpiece so don't even know what to expect from Ashton Allen in the future. Enjoy the ride.

I was skeptical of this album the moment I heard some of the pre-release buzz floating around. It isn't as though it popped out of thin air and beckoned our curious ears--well, I suppose it is, anything that the press eagerly compares to our lost idols of music (see: Elliot Smith, Nick Drake) will be put to the test by the eager and the wary alike. Not so surprising then, that Ashton Allen's debut album, "Dewdrops", fails to live up it's hype.

It may be true then, that hype itself is the problem here. In so many forms of entertainment these days we see that hype ultimately brings down what it attempts to glorify; It promises every manner of dreams-fulfilled but has this sneaky tendency to shred them apart. It really is hard to live up to being branded and I think Ashton has failed because he made this attempt instead of really being his own entity. Perhaps it was simply the fault of misrepresentation; Whatever the reason, moving on.

He has talent, that much is sure. He does have ability to play his instrument of choice and play it well but the real stumbling block his his lyrical inability. Sure, he can throw together melodies and rhymes but they just don't have power to them. They sound much more like radio-friendly pop than the sorrowful crooning of Drake or the real, true-to-life experiences that Elliot panned out through his music. This music sounds forced, fake and fragile only in that it isn't strong enough to stand up to it's predeccesors.

What this says to me is that Ashton is ready to be heard, just not by the crowd he's being marketed towards. If you dive into this album expecting to feel lifted, moved or otherwise elated then you're most likely in for a shocker--It's like what Adema did to it's genre: It keeps the sound but doesn't have the heart.
There's talent in these dewdrops, sadly it will most likely evaporate away into the morning sun and like many have before, fall prey to the terrible clutches of some marketing 'genius' and his/her view of the music industry.

It is only a debut, however, therefore I look forward to seing the evolution of an artist, despite the shortcomings of these tracks. Here's hoping...

THE BAND: Aston Allen (acoustic & electric guitars, bass, piano, organ), Shannon Forrest (drums), Ilya Toshinsky (lead guitar, banjo, mandolin), and assorted players on violin, viola, cello, trombone, trumpet and french horn.

THE DISC: (2005) 14 tracks clocking in at approximately 50 minutes. A 6-page booklet includes song lyrics, band members and thank you's. All songs written by Allen. Label - Livewire.

COMMENTS: While this is good mellow music... it did not reach out and grab me as I had hoped it would. Allen's vocals are breathy - and he doesn't fluctuate much from there. He always seems like he's in the same mood, using the same tone. In hind sight, I wish he'd sing with a little more conviction - like the way a young Paul McCartney or Bob Dylan would do on some of their early acoustic songs. When I first heard the album, I could picture Allen singing his songs next to Phoebe Buffay at the local coffee house on "Friends". Allen's music fits into that safe adult contemporary lite-FM venue. Many similarities to Elliot Smith, Peter Yorn, Howie Day, early CSNY, even John Mayer, Coldplay or an acoustic Oasis. It's non-threatening music... the kind you might find in an elevator or a dentist's office some day. Allen is an accomplished musician and artist. He writes a nice song and plays many an instrument. He is most apt at his guitar. Several songs are strictly voice and acoustic guitar ("Dewdrops", "Every Hour Of The Day", "Prodigal Son"). Track 6 features Allen on piano with his voice matching the strokes on piano... probably my least favorite song here. The best songs are when the whole band is playing, complete with strings and horns... relaxed and unhurried in every way, filled with lush tones, thoughtful and smart lyrics, just beautiful melodies ("Better Than I Know", "Counting The Cost", "Steven's Song", "Something To Say"). Over all a decent debut - looking foward to hearing what his next few albums sound like... and, hoping on some songs he steps outside the box a bit. If you like songs rich and soft in quality, then this album is for you.

The lyrics, the new original music, the voice...wow! What else can I say? I'm so glad I bought this CD and hope to find more by this artist in the future. Is there mailing list I can get on?

The first time I heard this album, I was struck by how much Ashton Allen reminds me of a lighter version of Elliot Smith. Of course, maybe that is not a good thing for Ashton Allen since Elliot Smith fans crave the melodic heaviness that Smith could bring to a song. Ashton Allen's songs may seem immature, not fully developed, or at least lacking something because of that comparison, which is very hard to avoid making. However, without that comparison, Ashton Allen's music is quite enjoyable, and I would definately recommend buying this album.

This first album of Ashton Allen is exquisite.... a powerful blend of voice, lyrics and and richly layered music. Every song reaches me, whether it is "If You Leave",with it's 'get you in the heart' lyrics and masterful mixing, or "Prodigal Son", a hauntingly beautiful, goosebump producing, blend of emotions... Ashton Allen should be heard. In the same vein as Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, Kings of Convienence, and Simon and Garfunkel... Ashton's songs are not just songs... they are his philosophy... presented is a hauntingly simple,loving way...

This album would be great except for one thing; Elliott Smith already made this music with much more emotion and purity and soul. Being a big ES fan someone told me to check Ashton Allen out. This album only made me miss Elliott Smith more.

This is a great album! I have not taken it out of my cd player since I bought it. Lookout for Ashton, because he is definitely on his way to the top!

Ashton Allen is a positive person w/ what seems on his cd a great outlook on life. Smith was drab and killed himself. I mean seriously. Are you going to go down the road paved w/ thorns & obstacles or are you going to go down the road that is clear and will take you somewhere? I myself, choose the latter. Thankfully so does Mr. Allen.