Track by Track Review from Music Street Journal

music street journal header

Auburn
Game of Faith
Review by Gary Hill
Over the years I’ve reviewed quite a bit of music from this act. While there is a definite range in terms of musical concepts, it’s all high quality. It’s also all artsy and non-mainstream. This set leans in the jazz, blues and folk zone. It’s mostly mellow and all classy.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2019  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Game of Faith
The title track opens the set. It has a cool, bluesy kind of Americana in the rather stripped down guitar arrangement. The vocals are a bit whispered and so cool. It all works together to create an intriguing and entertaining song. As it rises up a bit more there is some killer clean electric guitar soloing.
Bad Girl, Good Woman
This isn’t a huge change, but it’s very cool. Some organ lends a different flavor. The cut really works so well. There is more of a jazzy edge to this one. The vocals on this number are almost spoken.
I Don’t Love Him
Even jazzier, I love the old school guitar fills built into this thing. The retro bluesy vibe here is a real charm of the piece.
I Drank
Stripped back, this is just guitar and vocals. It’s an intimate kind of retro styled blues tune.
Prosecco-Fuelled Profiles
More energized, this has more of a jazz meets rock arrangement, but the guitar based version of that. While there are plenty of retro elements here, this is among the most modern sounding stuff here. It’s a nice bit of variety and a piece of class.
Trinidad
There is a bit of a Latin vibe to this cut. It’s a dramatic piece with a lot of charm and style. It’s a bit of variety for the set, too. Yet, it still fits quite well amidst the rest.
Red Velvet Pillow
This comes in with another stripped back blues arrangement. It’s another that is just guitar and voice at the onset. Other instruments join after the first verse, and we’re off with a stylish blues arrangement.
Happy Nowhere
I love the guitar fills on this tune. There is a bit of a dreamy quality to this number. It’s more of a folk rock tune with Americana in the mix.
Misshapen Fruit
Gentle folk music is the concept here. The arrangement is simple and delicate, letting the piece really shine.
It’s Not Love
More of a roots rock Americana groove creates the basis for this number. The vocals are more of the whispering variety. There are some great retro guitar fills built into this thing. I really love the guitar work late in the track.
Float to Blue
Much more of a rock song, this is still packed full of retro stylings. Yet, it does have a more modern element than some of the rest do. This is classy stuff that works so well. It’s one of my favorites here.
Spoke in the Wheel
There is a bit of a dreamy folk rock vibe to this. It’s another cut that leans in a bit more modern direction. Yet, it’s still built on some serious retro Americana. This is all class and one of the highlights here.
Like I Do
Here we get another bluesy rocker. While this is a solid tune, it’s not a standout.
His Arms
A pretty song, this has a stripped down, folk arrangement. It is a nice way to take the set to its closing.