Artist: Dave Murphy
Album: A Heart So Rare
Released: 2025
Website: https://davemurphy.net/
Dave Murphy is simply a gem in the Americana music scene. The patience in his approach to his compositions is flat out charming and as listenable as it gets. His music has all the ingredients that old Nashville meeting the mellow side of Ray Davies at a gig in Greenwich Village would bring. I'd like to say it has a mid 90's vibe reminding me of The Wallflowers first record or even Natalie Merchant's classic album Tigerlily, but that would pigeonhole it into a time period that doesn't do it justice. The sound of this album is truly timeless from start to finish.
The album features some heavy hitter musicians including SNL drummer extraordinaire Shawn Pelton. He always manages to play the perfect and tasteful drum part with a healthy dose of subtle ghost notes. Shawn's playing lets the people who know that a real player is at work. He has a way of creatively pocketing 2 and 4 that puts him amongst the elite of the top tier studio musicians. Also gracing the sessions are keyboardist Rob Clores (Jesse Malin, Charli XCX, Lucinda Williams), bassist Richard Hammond (Joan Osborne, Hamilton [original Broadway cast]), Grammy-winner Ben Wisch, Todd Caldwell (Graham Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Mark Erelli, and James Maddock. Handling "anything with strings on it" is Chris Tarrow. To say the least, the band is killer.
Track one, October Skies sets the standard from the first downbeat that carries through the entirety of the record. Jangly guitars are peppered throughout that remind this listener of Mark Knopfler's solo work, accented by an absolutely perfect performance by this all star band. Dave Murphy's vocal performance is as comfortable and relaxed as an old house cat stretched out in a spot of sunlight. There is a dynamic ebb and flow that comes from only years of working one's musical craft and this band has it zeroed in.
The very next track, Josephine is another standout. There is an understated genius to Dave's songwriting that is intoxicating at every turn. He has all the hooks, in all the right places. It is the lack of clutter in his compositions that makes them stand up to repeated listening. One would think writing simple and memorable three minute songs is easy when listening to this outfit, but this group is exceptional at delivering the goods. It's not enough to have a great song. The song needs to be played and recorded well also, and there was no detail ignored in the process of this production.
For this writer, the cut that takes the blue ribbon is Red. Another track that flirts with the Mark Knopfler vibe that can be found in his masterpiece Philadelphia. This track seems to embody the vibe of the entire album. It summarizes all the subtleties, hooks, dynamics and outstanding performance of well crafted songs played by world class musicians. The attention to the details of the tones shines through right down to choosing the perfect cymbals for the song. The tone on the tasteful solo simply couldn't be better. It is a wonderful and patient song that will be on my playlist for years to come.
A Heart So Rare is Dave Murphy's seventh album. It clocks in at 42 minutes with ten perfect cuts that showcase a master storyteller supported by a wonderful musical backdrop. He takes all the right influences from the great American songwriters and twists them into his own truly enjoyable cocktail. It is like sipping enough whiskey to take the edge off, but never shooting it with a mission of getting crazy. That is for the young and reckless. This record is made by mature adults for mature adults. Adults that still love a catchy hook, but want it without the glitz that comes with youth. For Americana fans this album is a 12 on a scale of 1-10.
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