smile.shift.speak - reviewed by Steven Uhles
review by Steven Uhles - The Augusta Chronicle
12.08.2010
smile.shift.speak —Will McCranie:
Will McCranie writes really good songs for rock bands — even when he’s not playing with one. His songs are filled with hard hooks, choruses that open up at just the right time and melodies driven by a guitar hit hard. On smile.shift.speak, that’s both a blessing and burden. This collection of songs, recorded simply as solo acoustic numbers, strip away the noise and allow McCranie the freedom to show off the bare bones of his playing, singing and songwriting style. They serve as a window into his creative process, a portrait of the young man as artist. They also, for better or worse, leave the listener wondering “What if …?”
What if these songs had been recorded with a full band? What if McCranie had set aside his faithful acoustic in favor of a rhythm-friendly Telecaster? Would these songs have sounded better? Stronger? Worse?
There’s a very real possibility an expanded sound, which McCranie has been known to toy with from time to time, might make these tunes soar. It’s also possible that, given his proclivities as a performer, it might prove to be too much. McCranie is a naturally enthusiastic player and performer. When playing acoustic, he fills in spaces with an urgent vocal style and hard-strummed guitar that is as percussive as it is musical. Playing in the big loud might force him to either eliminate those interesting textures or use them to compete with the power of a band.
What is clear are the strides McCranie continues to make as a songwriter. The intentionally brief collection is filled with real musical honesty. Listen to hard, percussive strumming — even on a lower key tune like It Ain’t Like Georgia — in a great, and surprisingly optimistic ode to the homesick blues. Been This Way Before , which clocks in at less than 40 seconds, is a study in emotional economy. They are the product of an artist finding his voice. But I’m still curious about the rock band thing.
original article can be found at:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/things-do/applause/2010-12-08/local-acts-newest-cds-resound-evolutions
