2003..A
collection of thirteen finger-style songs and instrumentals: Six original songs,
five original solo guitar compositions and two public domain works.
Styles range from folk rock, jazz,
Renaissance lute pieces,
Irish baroque, blues and open tuning folk. Contains the song, ”Self made Man”
the antithesis to ‘Modern Man’.
John Sheehan plays the
guitar like a man in mid-conversation. On Notes From
Suburbia he picks, strums, and sings his way through 13
audio lectures, on topics ranging from self-made men, to
imported beer and mushrooms. Sheehan is first and
foremost an instrumentalist, and his gifted fingers flip
through the pages of six-string history with a dexterity
that rivals heroes like Doc Watson and Leo Kottke. His
love for classical, jazz, blues, and folk finds its way
into almost every piece, allowing for a worldly breadth
of emotion that causes self-penned tunes, such as "Cabin
Fever," to resonate with the same personality as
traditional pieces like "Five Ricercars." As a vocalist,
Sheehan employs a dusty croon that brings to mind a less
mumbly Mark Knopfler -- an obvious influence on his
electric guitar work -- and filters his wry observations
into an easy matter-of-fact dialogue with the listener.
The nostalgic "Imprint," a sweet salute to the inspired
and inspiring, is among the record's finest offerings,
and "It Don't Come Easy" features a first-rate melody
and fine harmonies from Jessie Holladay. While "Last
Night In a Dream," with its subtle percussion and moody
atmospherics, showcases Sheehan's bluesy roots -- and is
strangely reminiscent of "Books of Moses" by Moby Grape
casualty Skip Spence -- it's the Celtic-tinged "Lord
Inchiquin," and the remarkable "Bader's Field" that
place him in the top tier of contemporary folk artists.
~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
Crow and Wolf Music
review: On his third CD, John Sheehan continues the
mix of instrumentals and songs, but this time with only
minimal accompaniment--a sort of return to the stylings
of Instrumental Solo Guitar without going completely
instrumental. A nice compromise between the two, and
where we think Sheehan fits in the best. "Desert Prayer"
is inspired by the events of 9/11, while "My Habits Are
Killing Me" is a paean to indulgence and the effects it
can have on oneself. "Bader's Field" celebrates
Sheehan's suburban upbringing while "Five Ricercars" is
a nod to early music and the Sir John Alot-period
stylings of John Renbourn--"...for friends who have
asked me to release a lute CD, which I hope to do
someday," Sheehan says. Quite possibly Sheehan's best,
although all three are worth having.
Send mail to
njfingerstyle@optonline.net with questions or comments about this web
site.
Last modified: 11/20/11
