Johnny Irion - Ex Tempore [Digipak] [8/7] *

Artist:

Irion, Johnny

UPC:

700261214573

Description:

Personnel: Johnny Irion (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, harp, piano, Wurlitzer organ); Johnny Irion; Greg Humphreys, Hedgspeth Family, Sarah Lee Guthrie (vocals); Greg Readling (steel guitar, bass instrument); Cecil Johnson (flute, saxophone); Cecil Johnson (flute); Bill McKinley, Bill McKinley (French horn); Jay Brown, Bryan Howard (bass guitar); Dave Johnson, Dave Bash Johnson (drums); Ryan Pickett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer, drum machine); John Teer (violin); Ken Mosher (saxophone); Zeke Hutchins (drums).
Audio Mixer: Ryan Pickett.
Recording information: Pic`s Gym.
There are so many things about Johnny Irion -- his voice, his songs, and his choice of arrangements -- that match up to the early to-mid-`70s. His high, thin vocals come across like an early, unreleased album by Neil Young on Ex Tempore, and the song structures often reach back to the classic rock template. So when the harmonica squeals out in front of an acoustic guitar at the beginning of "She Cast Fire," or a string arrangement is embedded into "Roman Candle," it`s easy for the listener to hear an echo of Harvest or After the Gold Rush. Having said this, Irion`s sensibilities are as odd -- though in a different sense -- as Young`s, making Ex Tempore distinctly eccentric country-folk. An example of his left-of-center sensibility is "Brush Yer Teeth Blues," a song that manages to come across as a gentle lullaby despite its oddness. One of the best qualities about songs like "Eyes Like a Levee" and "Short Leash" is how tuneful they are, how easy to catch onto, even on first listen. Ex Tempore is an easy album to like, as was 2001`s Unity Lodge, and its off-the-cuff quality (which the title seems to imply) gives it an air of authenticity lacking in so much grittier alternative country. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Take Care
2. Short Leash
3. She Cast Fire
4. Roman Candle
5. Eyes Like a Levee
6. Madrid
7. Brush Yer Teeth Blues #56
8. Good Cry
9. 1000 Miles an Hour
10. Always Lookin` Out
11. Fragile Humans
12. Bunny`s Home

Album Information

Release Date:

08/07/2007

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Country Rock

Label:

RCAM

Producer:

Johnny Irion; Ryan Pickett

Catalog Number:

RCAM 008

Original Release Year:

2007

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

41 : 28

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