You know that fleeting feeling of peace you feel on a road trip when you’re fueling up with snacks at a scenic gas station? Sherman Downey has somehow managed to turn that feeling to sound with his newest album, New Beautiful.
This album finds its core in the transient spaces of our everyday lives. Downey excels at familiarizing us with new places and characters. “Deep in the Dark of the Jubilee Seam” has some of Downey’s finest moments of storytelling on the album. “She was born with liquor in her veins, and any man who laid his hands upon her was lucky to have used his hands again,” Downey sings of the song’s leading lady. It’s one example of many of how he’s able to create such a strong image of a character with only a few lines.
There’s a cinematic quality to the songs on this album. Not so much in the sense that they’re particularly grandiose or epic, but in how immediately they’re able to summon rich, sunny visuals. Not a single track would be out of place on the soundtrack of a slice of life indie film, offering fitting backing to tender moments. This is apparent from the opening track, “Front Porch”. As Downey sings of people-watching from his porch, it’s easy to gain a familiarity of a friendly neighbourhood you’ve never been to before.
“The Sun In Your Eyes” showcases all the ways Downey is able to do this well – maybe because the 2013 track has had time to simmer. The song is rife with soft harmonies and strings, and the peaceful warmth that results is a constant throughout the album. The presence of strings and horns are also just welcome additions to the bulk of these tracks, elevating what would otherwise be fairly cut and dry folk-pop.
Though it’s clear that Downey is comfortable within the nook of country-influenced folk-pop, it’s interesting departures like these that make it a more unique experience. “Romancer” has some funky production, a bit more ambitious than the down-home feel of previous tracks. “Make believe that you move like a dancer” is a fitting line when sung over the dancey backing of the chorus.
It’s also a testament to the diversity of the album’s sound. Where “Romancer” is the closest to pure pop we see on the album, it immediately follows into “Long Goodbye”, which has the crooning twang of a country ballad.
Despite the quick switch-ups in Downey’s styles, New Beautiful always feels cohesive. Downey’s strong voice – both lyrically and literally – is the shining thread that ties everything together.