This is a new artist for me, but open the mind to new cosmic possibilities!
Reading up on the background on Craig, he was originally from Leeds. He’s a singer-songwriter who feels just as at home commanding the stage with a band as he does when captivating audiences with his solo performances. His journey has taken him far and wide, both geographically and artistically, shaping him into an unstoppable force that demands attention.
The press release tells me that with his latest album, Brauns “unleashes a collection of songs that transport listeners to a realm where music holds the power to inspire, to move, and to leave an indelible mark on the soul. Brace yourself for an electrifying ride as Craig Brauns takes you on a sonic adventure, defying conventions and leaving an unforgettable imprint on the world of music.”
So I wonder!?
Here is my review. We have 11 songs and an album running in just under 40 minutes.
“Firewater” opens the album with a positive rock vibe. Looking at the album cover, I was tempted to lead with “groovy baby,” but the music is harder edged than a 1960s flower era beat. The track is like a heavy Monkees. I liked it. It certainly gets the album off to a great start and has an American airwave feel to it.
“The Desert Song” sets off with a seriously cool beat, and I loved the lyrics to this one. I have to say this is a very radio friendly track. It is one of those songs you play on a long journey where the road stretches out ahead and the two of you open the windows and let the wind blow. The car slips into autocruise, and you let the music play.
“Baby Man Moon” introduces a poppy punk feel into the mix. Just as I was getting comfortable with the sound, this one claps along and bounces to the beat.
“Cosmic Dealer” is a jaunty number. Poppy positivity and some great vocals lead the way with this little number. Radio-friendly, for sure.
“Melody So Sad” has actually got quite an upbeat melody. I liked the drum/bass beat and the lighter lyrics layered on top.
“Howling Nuts” has a bit of storytelling and a bit of boogie. It takes me to those old bar jukeboxes where someone would put a quarter in and a song would play while I had a game of pool. It’s lightweight pop rock and easy to listen to.
“Screwin” is interestingly named! I did really like the vocals here; the song is a bit of a lyrical lament, and I got into the piece. There are some interesting instrumental fusions in there—a bit of experimentation and variety pinned down by some solid drumming.
“Let Me Take You to the Son” takes me back to the 60’s again, breezy and American radio. It is a strongly delivered vocal delivery again, and it has a pleasing religious touch.
“Be a Star” returns to a slightly more rocky vibe, another lovely harmony in the chorus, and plenty of downbeat. It’s an album track that is fine and comfortable for late night listening.
“Rock On” I liked. Sometimes very simple things can work best. This one strips the music back, lifts a vocal in the mix, and takes us to a simple swaying rock with all those references to singers of the past. This one works.
“Love Light on You” finishes the album in a gospel style, which is rather nice. It is a song for a winter evening when a candle burns bright. A strong ending. We don’t make a big thing of it, but all four of us here at the magazine are practicing Christians, even if from different traditions. We often wonder if we should touch on gospel music more, but when we find that influence on the music we listen to, we often note it positively.
And an overall summing up. I think Lorraine maybe should have had this one to review, as I tend to do the blues and the rock side of life. However, I must say there was a lot I liked here. Craig Brauns is a highly talented singer songwriter, and when this album worked for me, it really worked. There were things I was a bit unsure of. I don’t think the album cover does the work any favors; I would have preferred a desert image, perhaps. There were no songs on the album that I disliked, nothing jumped out as a filler. It doesn’t set any new paths, but it is very comfortable in what it does well. It delivers crisp, well written Radio 2 style popular light rock. It also has a couple of excellent tracks that are clear standouts and set a marker for what Craig can do.
Standout tracks: “Firewater,” “The Desert Song,” and “Rock On.”
The album is already out, released at the end of May.
You can stream the album here.
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By Stevie Ritson