Peter Walker "Young Gravity" (Dangerbird)
By
Friday. Apr 28, 2:16 AM
Sung like lovers’ lullabies, but could use more rockin'.

It’s safe to say that I am a sucker for a solo artist/singer-songwriter; it takes a special kind of courage to produce a record with no one’s name on the cover but one’s own. To do so is nothing less than to subject one’s art – and often oneself – to the scrutiny of a fickle public, with no guarantee that anyone will “get it,” and the very real possibility that everyone will hate it. If they hate it, they hate you; but if they love it, then the glory is all yours. And if they think it’s just mediocre, then you’re just mediocre.

Peter Walker certainly is not afraid to lay bare his being, in both songwriting and performance. His second record, Young Gravity, is rife with songs that are written from a very personal perspective and sung like lovers’ lullabies. It’s a very intimate record, but it respectably avoids overt sentimentality for the most part. The music – mellow, organic and yet at times ethereal – takes care of all that.

Walker seems to be somewhat stuck in the role of balladeer, however, which is unfortunate. The few songs on Young Gravity that have a little volume and a beat are quite good. The first two tracks, “What Do I Know” and “39 Stars,” are catchy, guitar-driven pop songs that are hard to stop hearing even when the music’s off. Walker’s trippy ode to self-loathing “Sleepin’ Around” is equally infectious, while the playful “Preacher” could easily pass for authentic Memphis garage-rock. It’s on these songs that Walker’s talent as a singer shines: I am reminded here of Greg Cartwright’s angsty howl and growl vocals, which is no small compliment.

The rest of the album is made up of good songs, but Walker’s balladry can nonetheless be rather boring and is often easily ignorable. For the close listener, there is certainly much to be appreciated in Walker’s more somber moments, but their abundance drags Young Gravity down when compared to the electricity of the record’s more vibrant tracks. Walker is a guy that can rock the fuck out, and he should. More. At least that’s the impression of him I get after several spins of Young Gravity.

That being said, this isn’t a record that should go unheard. While only a few songs stand out to this reviewer, those few songs stand out prominently: and not one of the rest of the tracks falls into the “suck” category. I might even predict that the ballads will grow on me… but for now it would be cool if Walker would just kick out the jams.
www.peterwalkermusic.com
www.dangerbirdrecords.com

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Jason Bronson

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