Gus Black - Autumn Days

Gus Black
Autumn Days
Cheap Lullaby Records
Grade: A-

Gus Black’s etched-out voice and instruments intertwine to create a gorgeous set of fourteen songs on his fourth full-length. Uncommonly overlooked, Black melodically dances with alt-country and folk flair with an array of whispering songs and more rocking lite FM numbers. Along for this surprisingly catchy, knee-bouncing journey are longtime band members drummer Rocco Bidlovski and bassist Gianni Neiviller, including guest spots by Dave Palmer, David Henry, Sara Watkins, and Sarabeth Tucek. For a self-produced, quiet little affair Autumn Days is chock-full-of great songs with compelling choruses. Generally, they fall into two camps: acoustic singer-songwriter and with a full band. Nearly, all the songs have a piece or two to delight, but the highlights among the acoustic songs include the opener “Don’t Go Tellin’ the Whole World,” the slowly crescendoing “Traffic and Sound,” and the dirty “Devil Spine.” The songs when Black uses a full backing band tend to be more upbeat, at least in tempo, than the acoustic numbers. Those worth your time include the great chorus on “Long Beach (It’s a Miracle),” the poppy “Certain Kind of Light,” and the light whispy “Fire Escape.” It’s true that Autumn Days may be something that needs to grow on you and first impressions might be of an artist who spent too much time in coffee houses…yet give Gus Black some love.