Bart Davenport
Palaces (Antenna Farm)
By Catherine Cole
Published: September 14th, 2008 | 9:00am
You know when someone is so nice, they border on being annoying? But then you kind of end up hating yourself if you actually articulate this fact to anyone else because then you look like the annoying, wet blanket? Well, that feeling is well covered in this record.
Take for example: James Blunt. His chart-busting single “You’re Beautiful” was that critical blend of sappy-sweet honesty and heart-wrenching depression due to the loss of his lover. You couldn’t help but feel for the guy, even if part of you wanted to make fun of his belting whines.
Bart Davenport is good at making those kinds of songs. His fourth solo album on Oakland-based Antenna Farm Records, Palaces, holds on to the soft-spoken folk singer-songwriter vibe throughout its 12 tracks. It even has that token James Blunt break-up ballad.
“Strangelife” tells the tale of how life used to be good and “in Technicolor” but now “life seems so strange now that you have gone.” But instead of really driving the heartache-point home with the score, the uppity piano and percussion makes you feel like skipping around the neighborhood while wearing a cardigan and waving to your neighbors.
Lyrics and vocals aside, Davenport’s strong suit is definitely his ability to compose relaxing, soothing melodies that have a simplistic vintage quality to them. With its classical xylophones and soft snares, “A Young One” might have you double-checking to see if you’re actually listening to a ‘50s oldies station.
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Bart Davenport’s official site
Bart Davenport’s MySpace page
Issue #24
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