"4th and Broadway"
by Eryn Shewell
Eryn Shewell's second CD, "4th and Broadway", takes me back to the days at my first radio station. One side of the station played solid gold oldies from the 60s to the 70s and the other side featured tunes from the 40s and 50s. Eryn's latest record is like a time machine that gracefully glides between these two worlds and creates an utterly timeless experience that will grow on you with each and every listen.
While Eryn's debut record showed a lot of promise, in my opinion, the record always seemed to pale in comparison to her live shows. This follow-up not only showcases much tighter and improved songwriting, but takes her music in new directions - tilting more towards R&B and jazz than many of the singer-songwriter/rock/pop songs on her previous effort. I think this change may have occurred when Eryn finally realized just how talented the members of her band really were, a situation, which afforded her the opportunity to explore all of the various genres she enjoys. The result is what used to be known as a "rainy day record" - one that you'd pop in on a dark and dismal day and let the music instantly make you feel better. If you're a fan of Eryn's work as a singer-songwriter or pop/rocker there are tunes you'll enjoy; if you prefer her jazz & blues side she's got you covered; and if you simply want to hear some great R&B and feel your toes start to tap the floor, she's got you there as well. The record isn't so much of an enigma but a mixture of sounds that works especially well - in other words, it resembles her live shows.
I've often said that I believe good songs sound as if they've always been around. Even from the first time you hear them when they don't sound like anything you've heard before, they always sound comforting. It's as if the songs had been locked away all these years just waiting for someone to find the key to release them. That's the feeling I get from "4th and Broadway". There are songs which remind me of artists as diverse as Carole King to Kool & the Gang; the Commodores to Sade. It's a mix that features wonderful guitar work, tremendous horns, and relies, in the end, on the power of Eryn's vocals. I highly recommend checking it out.
My favorite tracks include "300 Miles", "I'll Wait Forever", "Do You See", and "Whiskey Devil".
