Brian Gladstone – Psychedelic Pholk Psongs released on Silverwolf Records – Review By Marty Murray – Reprinted from The Nail Online
Toronto guitar picker extraordinaire Brian Gladstone has come a long way in a very short time. Two years ago he recorded his debut CD, "Back To The Dirt." Since then he's been playing quite a number of live gigs, and has been the organizer behind Toronto's Earth Day concert and the upcoming Winterfolk Festival.Mainly, though, he's been working on a follow-up album, and the result is "Psychedelic Pholk Psongs." As indie releases go, this one is a first-class effort. The recording is excellent, and the striking cover art and extensive liner notes are a very nice touch indeed. First released in September of 2001, the album soon began picking up radio airplay in Europe and Australia, and before long Brian found himself being signed to Silverwolf Records, a folk label located in Vermont, and home to artists such as the Kingston Trio and Odetta. Since then the album has been extensively re-recorded and remastered, and has gone on to a second pressing.
Like "Back To The Dirt," this is a totally acoustic album. No electric instruments were allowed, no fancy production tricks, just a straightforward, honest recording, aided by Brian's frequent live accompanists, sister Bonnie Gladstone on harmony vocals and lead guitarist Tony Quarrington on second guitar and mandolin. Brian's forte is lightning fast fingerpicking, and there's plenty of it to be found here. His style often lies somewhere between traditional bluegrass and ragtime, his songs covering subject matter from the very humourous to the introspective and socially conscious. "Asphalt Cowboy," "I Like Me" and "Mega City Mel" are examples of the former. Brian's serious side comes out in the more folk-based compositions, such as "Save The Wolverine," "Do You Think You're Dorothy," the exquisitely played "I Still Think About You Babe," and the touching "A Father's Lullaby." The entire album has a nice "down home" feel, as if you're sitting in his livingroom listening to him perform. As Brian remarks, this is "the only CD which restores brain cells lost to cheap 60's drugs!" I don't know if that's true, but it certainly is a very pleasant listen and a very unique recording. For more information about Brian Gladstone, his CDs and his upcoming performances, please go to his website at www.backtothedirt.com.
