| Theater of the Unheard - Darrell Scott | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
Darrell Scott arrived in Nashville in the mid-1990s. He was an ace musician adept at playing a multitude of instruments and also a sensitive songwriter with a knack for engaging story songs. Immediately Darrell was asked to play on CDs and also had his songs recorded by artists. By 2000, many artists had covered his songs with "A Great Day To Be Alive" (Travis Tritt), and "Long Time Gone" (Dixie Chicks) becoming huge hits. Both of those songs, along with his stark song "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" were on two albums recorded for Sugar Hill Records. What many don't know about Darrell Scott is that he was signed to SBK Records and delivered a CD which they ultimately passed on in 1991.
Twelve years later that album is seeing the light of day as the album "Theatre Of The Unheard." It's a diverse collection of songs that touch many musical genres and boundaries while retaining country instruments like steel guitar and mandolin. Put together like each song is 12 different stories for one play, the CD doesn't disappoint.
"East Of Gary" tells a story of a family that grows up in poverty and how like many sleepy towns, the locals hardly ever find a way to get out. Having come from a small town myself, I relate to how small town life and mores influence the families that live there. The melody of the song is strongly wrapped around Darrell's strong tenor vocals.
Featuring like-minded singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell on harmony vocals, the steel guitar laced "Uncle Floyd" tells a story of a broken man which Darrell's parents take in. He was cast off by his wife and children after he was no longer needed as the bread winner; it’s a lonesome tale of a man who becomes a shell of his former self.
"Day After Day” is another song about lonely souls, this time about a father who got started drinking as a 35-year old. A progressive country/rock song with a sing-a-long melody, it moves on to tell a message that life is what you make of it, not what is given to you.
"Six O’clock In The Morning" is a progressive Celtic/bluegrass track not unlike the stuff that Darrell did with Tim O'Brien. The song tells a tale of a poor boy who only wishes to find a job that will take him out of the poverty and have him happy with his life so that once he has children, they'll be happy too.
Funky, soulful and not much different than a Delbert McClinton song, "Miracle Of Living" tells another story of a lonely man who thinks the grass is gonna be greener in a different place only to find out "it's lonesome everywhere" and with that he can go back home to Boston and live a happy life now that he knows life is what you make of it.
"Alton Air" is an interesting instrumental in that it reminds me much of what Nickel Creek is known best for. It has fiddle, guitar and mandolin mixed into a melodic sound that makes the listener really feel each and every note of the song. If Nickel Creek can have a hit with an instrumental, there's no reason why Darrell Scott couldn't do the same with this heavenly piece of work.
On this album, Darrell Scott tells stories about lost souls and how they feel unloved, lonely or are searching for a place in the world. The title, Theatre of the Unheard is a perfect title for these songs and it has a double meaning to it since that pop/rock label passed on them. Never before heard, this well-produced CD leaves the listener wondering why they were passed over for some act such as Jon Secada or something. This is a tasteful collection of songs told like a folk story teller but backed by a full band sound that at times is country while other times being bluesy, jazzy and all out rock. This CD is absolutely one of the best of 2003.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Warner Nashville.
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