Frank Gayer Martin: Postmark
For October we have chosen an album from a Roaring Fork Valley singer/songwriter Frank Gayer Martin. Pigeonholing this album into a genre is only possible if we use the phrase “American Roots Music”. Like other artists in the new folk/Americana movement, Frank brings in influences from various musical traditions that are distinctly American. R&B vocals from Detroit, Swing & Shuffle from Texas, Cajun Rhythms from New Orleans, and even Native American chanting can all be heard on this Album. In addition to the musical influences, the songs are deftly written stories in the American Folk tradition. The combination of wonderful stories and appropriate instrumentation make for an incredibly enjoyable listen and a solid album from the beginning to the end.
After a week of listening to the album there are a couple of stand out songs. The first track Memphis Train is wonderfully crafted with a guitar/fiddle/percussion intro that fittingly sounds like a smoke spewing train leaving the station. One of the top tracks on the album, both musically and lyrically, it sets the tone for the stories to come.
Track 7 “West Texas Stars” is another memorable track with a heavy Texas swing influence. It’s a story of two brothers working their way across Texas during the harvest season. The themes of the song are very traditional; love of family, hard work, getting ahead, and the girl you’re looking forward to seeing. According to the liner notes, both “Memphis Train” and “West Texas Stars” are stories from Frank Gayer Martin’s family including his grandfather and great-grandfather.
Track 11 “You’re Shining”, is a simple ballad with lyrics that listeners can easily identify with. A song that is strangely familiar and evokes a strong emotion, this track is one of the more powerful on the album.
Postmark is an enjoyable listen and well worth owning. Unfortunately the 13th (hidden) track brings the whole album down as it tries to combine rap and golf. It doesn’t work! This album is a Paravellum recommendation with 3 ½ stars out of 5. Click on the Cover art on this page to order this Album from CDBaby.