Scott Dameron & Jay Ladd V-Walker 904A Review

Artist: Scott Dameron & Jay Ladd V
Title: Walker 904A
Genre: Folk-Americana
Label: Independent

If you are in the mood for some good folk songs with touching lyrics I have the right medicine for you, Scott Dameron & Jay Ladd V. The duo came together by a stroke of fate as roommates in college and they ended up writing songs together and remained friends and here we are today with a superb thirteen tracks titled Walker 904A.I am going to guess the title is the address they lived at during college but I may be off base with that.

If you have a penchant for melodic tunes filled with acoustic guitars, sweet harmonies and keyboards put in all the right places, you will love this album.

Think Kenny Loggins, James Taylor and the like and you have a modern day singer/songwriter combination that is hard to beat. There are more contributors than just the two men of course. Dameron plays the guitar and provides background vocals and Ladd is the lead vocalist while playing the piano and keyboards. That is the core sound however there is bass (Cameron Dye), Wurlizter organ (Chris Rosser), dobro (Billy Cardine), harmony vocals (Beth Wood), cello (Franklin Keel), electric slide guitar (Mars Ferris), violin (Joe Ebel), banjo (Marc Miller) and percussion (River Guerguerian). All of these instruments play a role in making the entire sound a distinct Folk and Americana album.

Every track is a joy to listen to. I did not hear a flop on the entire album and the production values are exceptional as well. Don't think for a minute that these two dudes are a couple of lightweights; just listen to the words and nasty slide guitar in "Listen Now". Now there is a track that makes a statement musically and lyrically. They go from light airy pleasantness to in your face no nonsense music lie CSN&Y delivered years ago. Then to give you a taste of some traditional Appalachian Mountain fresh air bluegrass -- ""Grass Won't Grow" will send you to the nearest barn for a hoedown and a roll in the hay. There is plenty of variety to sink your folk teeth into on this recording no doubt.

Chris Rosser also served as their producer so kudos for his all around hard work, in fact hats off to everyone involved on this project. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this music. It isn't get-up-and-dance music; it's the warmth and fuzziness that gently prompts a reflective trip that will keep you coming back for a second helping. For the most part I was reminded of the immortal James Taylor because of Ladd's vocal style although he is smoother around the edges than Taylor to be honest. I cannot offer anymore compliments than that except that every track is an original, which makes it all that much more of an amazing an effort by two very talented men.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: New Year's Day, Listen Now, Grass Won't Grow

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck'"MuzikReviews.com Founder

September 14, 2010

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Tracks:
01. Easy to Go
02. New Year's Day
03. Was That Me
04. Singin' Again
05. I Do Too (Wedding Song)
06. Master of The Air
07. Inside of Me
08. Something Real
09. Relativity
10. Listen Now
11. Just Another Song
12. Grass Won't Grow
13. Can't Tell You Goodbye