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Americana is still a new direction for me and I accepted the offer to review Don Gallardo’s Hickory with interest. From the opening chords of “Down in The Valley” this album had me hooked to the point that it felt wrong to fill the silence left by the closing notes of the darkly complex “Pearls”. Having spent 45 minutes immersed in masterful melody, thoughtful lyrics, and honeyed vocals it would be sacrilegious to jump back to New Country no matter how good a playlist Chris Country Radio has! Thankfully, as this is Don Gallardo’s 4th album, it seems that there is a lot more for me to discover.

The Americana label can suggest an air of years gone by, but Gallardo’s sound and storytelling finds contemporary ground that has still it’s roots in American folk music but with added elements of 70’s rock, and some country twang all of which are threaded with a laid-back west coast vibe. Credit should be given to producer David Pinkston (who has worked with Marshall Tucker Band, Linda Ronstadt, Gretchen Peters to name but a few). Gallardo’s vocals are clean and instrumentation and production are light and well tended; the result is really quite exquisite.

Amongst influences Gallardo cites Neil Young, Gram Parsons and Tom Petty, and I can certainly hear their impact. Listening, I am also reminded of Simon and Garfunkel, The Eagles and at times the intensity of Jeff Buckley.

Hailing from Northern California and having spent years cultivating his career on the west coast, Gallardo moved to Nashville 8 years ago and whilst there are Country influences, Hickory resonates with a Californian sound, particularly in the opening tracks “Down in the Valley” and “Diamonds and Gold”. Both have that easy flowing vibe and both focus on Gallardo’s vocals with instrumentation given the lightest of touch by some of the best session musicians in the business.

Still maintaining the West Coast air, “Carousel” a song that is faster paced than the first two, takes on a slightly different feel that puts me in mind of Simon and Garfunkel.

“Midnight Sounds”, “When The World Wakes Up” and “Angel on the Dance Floor” create a more contemporary mood and I am reminded of UK-singer songwriter Badly Drawn Boy. With lyrics like “I can ride out the storm, I can steady the weather” and ‘I’m always losing my mind, sometimes I’m two steps behind”, I am drawn to the stories with their easy listening percussion. “When The World Wakes Up” includes a pleasing sound of steel and the saxophone in “Angel on the Dance Floor” is a welcome surprise.As one would expect from an Americana album, these lighter songs are contrasted against dark, moody folk tales as well the requisite songs that tell of love lost. “Banks of the Mississippi” fits the folk tale well with female backing vocals and a cello adding to the mysterious ambiance of the melody. Lonesome lyrics are well represented in “This Time”, where Gallardo’s vocals take on a slight huskiness (blending with a harmonica) for this tale of lost love with the desperation of the situation described in the lyric “now the sun doesn’t shine, I’m thinking out of my mind”. Whilst there is not a bad song in this collection, “A Cup of Rain” is my standout. Telling a story of sad resignation this song is quite simply the definition of lyrical poetry. My words can’t do it justice so I won’t even try; you simply must listen to it!

With thought provoking storytelling that stays long after you have stopped listening, this album is cleverly arranged to ensure that despite the introspective moments we don’t stay down for long. An old-time barroom piano is brought to mind for “Will We Ever Get it Right” and “Ophelia, We Cry (Ode to Levon Helm)”. Reflecting a more classic sound, and with a heartfelt lyric and just the right amount of twang, this song feels like a fitting tribute to the Americana legend. In a similar vein “The North Dakota Blues” trots in to tell a tale of outlaw robbers. Like “Ophelia” this song stays true to the Americana sound, and with lyrics like “never trust a woman who says her name is Risky, and always make sure you never run out of whiskey” it certainly fits the genre.

All too soon it’s over. Hickory closes with “Pearls” a sad and complex tale of love and loss that evokes a sound of Neil Young and I am left in silent contemplation of a very classy, thought provoking, but accessible collection.



Down In The Valley
Diamonds & Gold
Carousel
Midnight Sounds
Banks Of The Mississippi
When The World Wakes Up
Ophelia, We Cry (Ode To Levon Helm)
The North Dakota Blues
A Cup Of Rain
Angel On The Dance Floor
This Time
Will We Ever Get It Right
Pearls