Short Bits

When You Get To Boston
Artist: Ralph Jeffers
Label: Indie
Website: www.ralphjeffers.com
Rlaph Jeffers, a singer-songwriter with a rock edge, thrives on a raw, melodic sound. It's a straightforward approach with themes of faith and how it intersects in our daily lives. With a stripped down mix of acoustic and electric sound, open and incisive lyrics, Jeffers brings on a plateful of soul-driven songs. He joins insightful and introspective young writers like the midwest's Josh Ritter and Ray LaMontagne.(Terry Roland)

Everyone Dreams Under Big Trees
Artist: Matt Robinson
Label: Indie
Website: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mattrobinson2
Building on an obvious knowledge and feel for past singer-songwriters like Dylan, Nick Drake, Neil Young, Robinson has delievered an album of accessible and fine songs embellished with combined guitar organ arrangement remisicent of Dylan's Highway 61 sessions with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. Stand out tracks include the opening Sunflower, a rocking tribute to country roots, Sad Song Honey and Home, the folk is there successully blended with rock and country in an appealing and engaging way.  .(Terry Roland)

Starlite
Artist: Nathaniel Sutton
While the chorus to “1933” and some enjoyable beats on “Creepy Crawlers” and “Night of Graduation” show promise, there is little else among these fifteen tracks to lure this disc into the CD player. Competently home-produced by multi-instrumentalist Sutton, it is the unconvincing vocals and formulaic, uninspired songwriting that let down this plodding and overlong collection. The blurb claims that Starlite “is sure to bring smiles upon the faces of anyone who listens.” It just brought a bored and impatient expression to mine. (Derek Walker.)