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Adam
Hood
New
Release: 6th Street: Paved In Gratitude
By
Jessica Fleming
The
Adam Hood release, “6th Street,” is a surprisingly
palatable blend of pseudo-poppy refrains and folk guitar,
well mixed into an arrangement one would expect from central
Texas. The lyrics of many songs seem to fix upon the same
general concept of gratuity for simple everyday occurrences,
a refreshing message in that it differs so greatly from
the popular status quo — the teenage crazes of lyrics
obsessed with sex and/or complete nonsense. Hood’s
release is a step away from such trends and into a suitable
air of southern hospitality, a step which I for one am
grateful for. His message seems to be along the lines
of “see the world for what it is and what it gives
to you,” not just the inadequacies and problems all
must face from time to time.
“Coffee Song” is easily my favorite song on
the album, because it is not only a modern love song with
a realistic conclusion, but it also serves to illustrate
a good point: the importance that the words “thank
you” can hold. The song itself tells the story of
two lonely people who build a relationship over little
more than a polite encounter at the end of a hard day.
Though the circumstances seem simplistic, and this, like
many other songs on the album, is a love song, there are
many things about this track that make it more than your
average ballad. It explains the back story of each of
the characters, and does this in third person, a lyrical
technique seen less and less in modern times. The refrain
is catchy and pleasant, as is the music, and the whole
package comes across very well.
Another good song on this album, worth listening to at
least once, is “Tuesday Night.” This is another
love song, but a bit different. Like “Coffee Song,”
it stresses uncommon gratitude and some of the problems
of a modern relationship, but this track also displays
the joy of having “someone like you I can come on
to.” The country roots show a bit more, but a softer
pop-rock development is also apparent. The tempo is a
bit slower, and the tone is more melancholy, but the song
“Million Miles Away” is a very sweet, sad explanation
of one side of a failed romance, stemming from physical
and emotional distance. The track is soft spoken, a direct
opposite of “Play Somethin We Know,” an atmospheric
tribute to some old stars of country, folk and classic
rock, which is by far the song that resembles the twang
of country music the most.
The disc in total seems to be somewhere between the country
and pop-rock genres, though the music can and should speak
for itself. By the name and appearance, this is not a
CD I would have picked up, and I would have been at a
loss for doing so. The songs are, if nothing else, an
interesting and worthy alternative to the mainstream musical
flow. The lyrics have some soul and meaning, all of which
somehow lead down to the simple idea of how nice it is
to hear the words “Thank you.” |
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Special
to the Skiff
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| Adam
Hood, a southern boy at heart, recently joined Pat
Green on stage in Dallas and has released his CD,
“6th Street.” Buy it at www.squareparkent.com |
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