Dave Shiflett: Press

"Dave Shiflett punctures the pompous, unmasks charlatans and laughs at human folly. Plus, he writes a mean love song. If Twain and Mencken were alive today, they'd have ``Songs for Aging Cynics" on their iPods."

PLAN NINE

Karma Farmers, SONGS FOR AGING CYNICS

First off, in all honesty, head Farmer and Richmond guitarist-singer-songwriter Dave Shiflett is a friend of mine. However, I heard most of these tunes before I started hanging out with him and had the same opinion about them then that I have now so I feel there’s no real conflict of interest. That said, Shiflett’s latest project is a finely crafted, intelligently written, precisely played one that charms more with repeated listenings. And, despite its title, and despite all the lyrical barbs in songs such as “Old Man Moan,” this is a package of love songs, singularly conceived and conveyed with a stark, underlying sincerity. Most of the 11 cuts speak of dreams and love with a smart and wry eye and they take a philosophical approach that – may I dare say it – is overall hopeful and humorous. If there’s a negative, it’s that most of the tunes are so peaceful and low-key that the project has a downbeat vibe if you’re not listening to what’s really going on. But beyond that, each tune has funny or heartfelt lyrical nuggets to savor. “Nowhere” is a well-written tune featuring unexpected word usage to express the salvation found in love. “Someplace Fine” is a wonderful bluesy, wistful wish. “Take My Dreams Away” speaks to the curse all dreamers know too well. On themes apart from love, “Virgins in Heaven” finds Shiflett commenting on the state of the world with typical downstream humor and he no doubt will go straight to hell for writing it. In addition to creating an estimable batch of songs for the project, Shiflett has enlisted some of the area’s best musical gunslingers to round out this fine Bill McElroy recording. Jeanine Guidry provides angelic lead vocals on a couple of tunes and her harmonies on others help support Shiflett’s rough-hewn and soft singing style. Bass player Matt Boon stays in the background but adds ever-present underpinning. Tripp Johnson slips in some nifty mandolin fills and Jim Skelding adds to the overall peaceful feel with his graceful fiddle runs. Instrumentally partly jazzy, partly bluesy, partly folkie, the Farmers lyrically are all fun while they discover that special land where dreamers sit back and wonder why. – Ames Arnold