You Crazy Dreamers

Rich ! It’s the first word which surfaced from my mind when thinking about sharing with you my emotions after 3 months long of perusing the third collection of my favorite Utah songwriter : Colby Stead.
‘So It Goes‘ is an intense and comfortable patchwork of Colby’s amazing talent. Based on a close canvas than his previous album ‘No’, most of the new tracks are delivering new colors and opening vast territories ; some paths recrossed, some discovered. Rich, I’m rich.
So, in the right catholic path that I’ve been teached ; I’ve spread the word to my dear fellow bloggers and bought them the album :  sharing…  They’ve granted me those following comments :

Kevin from the closed To The Dogs or Whoever

With the recent influx of male singer-songwriters on the market, breaking through or rising to the froth of the cup, or the cream of the crop as they say, isn’t so easy as those youthful days of Jackson Browne’s and James Taylor’s. One needs a little honesty and a whole heck of lot of luck. Scoring a slot on a recent popular prime time drama would help push things along.

‘So It Goes’ seems to be just that for Colby. Poised for some tastemaker to swipe a track off it and key it in as the backdrop for the lead heroine’s next introspective moment. But that’s the cynic in me folks and Colby maybe a little to good for my smart-assed analogy. There’s a striking sense of honesty in Colby songs and his clever, defiant word play and passion on a track like ‘Haunted Hole’ that breaks the deep sense of optimism, drenched in melancholy, that dominates the albums 11 tracks. This of course isn’t helped by the use of accordion and cello, which only add to the somber tone on most cuts. It borders on sugary sweet depression for me and one would be tempted to drop down and give up if it weren’t for Colby’s hope for the resolve… and I may just be resolved enough on the fact that Colby’s onto some great work here and this is a good start for me.

Key Tracks: Breathe, Haunted Holes, Plastic Poses and Keep Breathing.
Kevin

Smansmith from slowcoustic.com

“Breathe”
Maybe it is the slow and conscious delivery or the fact that it comes across naturally - almost like breathing - but I find the song “Breathe” to be the song of songs on Mr. Stead’s latest release “So It Goes”.   The blending of Colby’s and Amy’s vocals flow over you like many of the tracks of the album but on this one, they hesitate and ease into you as well.  I would feel like this track could make great use of old porch with one of those large two person rocking chairs, but with you draped over it lazily.  I especially enjoy the accordion (I think it is an accordion..) that in my mind is the third vocal with it seemingly in the background then coming to the forefront at various times throughout the 4 minutes.  Certainly a great way to spend 4 minutes… simply breathing.
Smansmith

Trini from youcrazydreamers.com

“Haunted Hole”
I’ve been a fan of Colby’s music from the very first moment Olly introduced me to him.  There is something so genuine, real, sincere about his lyrics.  Often times I feel as if he knows me and is writing these songs for me.  There are so many songs off this album that I love but it’s funny how these things happen and one really strikes out at you.  When I heard “Haunted Hole” for the first time I was like “wow” - “the tears that keep falling sideways and always never do they stop”  Songs are like horoscopes, everyone can interpret them in a different way, apply it to what is directly happening in their present life or past.  The lyrics - “how much can my head and my heart really take?  They both are compromising they soon will start rising quickly to the top - *sound pop*” - are so deep.  This song really struck a chord with me but there are many, many, many others that you will love.  I can’t wait to see Colby perform live.  Oh, and the build up in the end of this song, f-ing amazing…. .”please, please, please” you just have to take a listen.
Trini.

Me (as a good friend of mine, I can’t resist to share my owns ) from youcrazydreamers.com

“A Thought” (instrumental)
“I like floating in the clouds too much”. I’m sorry Colby to publish once again without your permission some of your words, But it’s exactly the meaning of this thought !  Oh, I love - as far as my english knowledge allow me - all of the words you lay on your music, but I really enjoy this absolute talent you’ve granted me : a track of freedom ; an absolute endless moment. Giving me the opportunity to lay a thought, a life, a whisper or just another breathe. Thank you so much !
“Fatherly Love”.
His previous collection entitled ‘No’ was cradling the fabulous ‘Motherly Love’.  ‘Fatherly Love’ song speaks to me in a really personal way : both as a father and a son. “There’s a thin line between a coward and a man”… resounds each time differently depending on which point of view you’re listening to the song. It also reminds me the famous Nick Cave’s ‘Wheeping Song’ and and and, and love …
Olivier.

Rich : You know what I mean ?
It sounds so deep…to me. Does anyone else agree? So it Goes…

Artist : Colby Stead
Label : Thoughtfull
Where to buy : right from the artist website / cdbaby.com / itunes
More Appetizers : @myspace.com / @youtube.com / @youcrazydreamers.com
You should also Enjoy : Fraser Anderson, Paul Tiernan, Holcombe Waller.