James Apollo “Good Grief” (Aquarium)
By Dave Schutz
Monday. Sep 12, 12:36 AM
Like a desert oasis. Wait… he’s from Minneapolis?

James Apollo’s Good Grief is like a tall cool drink in the barren wasteland left in the absence of France’s Amor Bellhom Duo. Like them, Apollo laces his take on Southwestern sounds with hints of cabaret, spaghetti westerns, and swells of guitar noise, resulting in an eclectic yet cohesive album. And like Naïm Amor (of the aforementioned duo), Apollo’s voice croons, soars, growls, and emotes tactfully, aiding the grandeur of his songs without allowing them to drift into melodrama. Cases in point: the Tom Waits-ish “Mercenary Tango” and the charming “Neko” (gee, could it be about the lovely Ms. Case?) both have an unlikely air of sincerity. One wonders if his plea (“Neko, kiss me”) just might have the desired effect.

Apollo’s not a bad guitar player either, and Luke Harper’s wonderfully spare but glistening production really gives Good Grief the treatment it deserves: from the rocking thump of “The Alamo” to the sparse ambience of “Long Rope.” Fans of Amor Bellhom Duo and Calexico take note: James Apollo is a force to be reckoned with.
www.jamesapollo.com
www.aquariumrecords.com

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Dave Schutz

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