Something Old, Something New (2008) 
Artist: Tarun Stevenson
Label: Independent 
Length: 10 tracks / 37:54 minutes

Tarun Stevenson is an Australian singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist whose first album Psalms for the Broken is a personal favourite and has strong appeal to fans of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper.

Something Old, Something New is Tarun’s second long player.  The title is fitting as it is a mixture of early and more recent songs by Tarun.  The ‘Something Old’ part of the album comprises 3 songs from Tarun’s ‘Roon’ EP, as well as 2 songs from Tarun’s brilliant ‘Psalms for the Broken’ album which was released in 2008.  These songs have been remixed and remastered by Phil Gaudion of Paul Colman Trio (PC3) fame.

The Roon EP songs are: ‘Booth Funk’ (which is a funky biographical song that Tarun penned as a kind of tribute to and about the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth), ‘Someone’ (which always takes me back to the late 60’s/early 70’s), and ‘Latch Key Kid’ (an all-out no-holds-barred rocker, that appeals to the rocker in me, about children whose parents are working full-time and so are left to their own devices and forced to fend for themselves).

The ‘Psalms for the Broken’ songs are ‘Sail Away’ (I love this song!) and ‘No More’ – both standout songs from the original album.

Let’s look at the ‘Something New’ part of this album. ‘Break Away’ is a radio friendly song with a great low end.  I love the sound of the Hammond organ during the instrumental section.  ‘Easter Parade’ is another strong number that is well-suited for airplay.  ‘Comin’ Back To You’ is a bluesy song that attacks legalism and judgmentalism head on and mentions that those who exercise this will reap what they sow.  ‘Is This The Way?’ is an anthem with a social conscience. ‘Nothin’ New’ moves along at a nice pace and takes King Solomon’s thoughts about the emptiness and vanity of living this life ‘under the sun’ without God.

For those who missed out on getting their hands on Tarun’s Roon EP, fret not for all the songs from that EP are on this current CD.  If you enjoy a more reflective, laid back ‘rootsy’ kind of sound, then you must get yourself the ‘Psalms for the Broken’ CD.  If you enjoy a funkier, rockier and even bluesier sound, then you’ll enjoy Something Old, Something New.

Frank Rasenberger     December 2010 
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