Range of Habits
Texas born, Nashville based singer-songwriter Coombs takes
his influences from beyond this simple geography and it is more to do with the
past than present, although fifth track Pearl
clearly evokes Ryan Adams. Listening to the opening two I heard the ghosts of
Jimmy Webb and Mickey Newbury, though neither as an absolute echo, just a
familiarity that suggested, as I’ve said, time rather than anything else. Then
there is fourth Strange Bird that
made me think of Kris Kristofferson in terms of the early songwriting, and with
Long Gone Lately it’s instantly rock’n’roll
balladry, including sweeping pop strings and a little spaghetti western whistling
and castanets, so he is having some fun with this one. The piano ballad In The Name of You showcases a clean
vocal, emotive heartbreak lyrics, and more strings to lavish the lachrymose of
such a clichéd, if sweet offering. The ‘busted and broke’ opening to Slow Road to Jesus evokes Kris again,
and a folk-gospel groove into which Coombs easily shifts and rests. Penultimate
Month of Bad Habits ups the mood ante
with snippets of guitar lead, but it is again quite polished, and overall there
are these poppy elements that detract just a little from the songcraft, but it
is all placed in context by closer Suwanee
County, a gentle folk ballad kept honest by apt, atmospheric pedal steel: I
would prefer more like.
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