Steve McCormick: “Lowlights and Footnotes” (Independent 2008)

Stick this in your six-shooter and smoke it

Steve McCormick is a sort of one man band playing pretty much everything here (except a little pedal steel) and writing and producing all the tunes. In approach he’s a kind of Billy Bragg for the Americana set – earnest, heartfelt and with just the requisite amount of humour to keep things the right side of listenable. Musically there’s a heavy dollop of country in the mix and this is what makes the project intriguing. Whilst the instrumentation and playing certainly follow the mores of the genre this is definitely a Brit take on what country is (or should and could be) i.e. humorous, self deprecating and with a wry ear for irony. Indeed opening track “Another English Cowboy” should be required listening for anybody who has ever worn a non-ironic Stetson, danced in a line or whooped and hollered at the use of a ‘confederate’ flag down the local workingmen’s club. Brilliant observational songwriting. If one were to offer words of advice it would be that Steve should get himself a proper backing band in order to allow himself more time to concentrate on his singing and guitar playing. Self played/produced records sometimes have a clinical feel to them due to the artist having to overdub everything (and perhaps being a little too exact about it) whereas with a band a more relaxed approach is possible and a more organic sound emerges from the use of different players. Still whatever Steve McCormick chooses to do in the future we should wish him the very best of luck.

Date review added:  Monday, December 01, 2008
Reviewer:  Paul Villers
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Artist website