Dean's favourite albums #9 - Suburban Songbook - Bob Evans

As lead singer of 90’s-00’s alt rock band Jebediah, Kevin Mitchell sung with an unusual but distinctive rock and rock whine. So when the time came for Mitchell to do something different, he chose to perform under a pseudonym, and as the story goes, he got the name from a US burger chain. In 2004, he released “Suburban Kid” an underrated album that showcased intimate roots flavoured songs. In 2006, he released his second album under the Bob Evans name, “Suburban Songbook”, which occupies number nine on my favourite albums list.

 

The first thing I need to mention about this album is the cover art – what a beautiful photo of a suburban street, with lovers hand in hand walking towards the sunlight.  But a good cover alone won’t get you on this list, and this album is so much more than its cover. In the 100 Best Australian Albums book (which rated this at #74), they describe it as “…a revelation, catching the listener off guard with its naked honesty and big , romantic heart.” The album blends country and folk with pop and sunshine, and sets the tone right from with the start with the warm acoustic track “Don’t You Think Its Time” (see link). There are great moments all throughout though, such as “Sadness and Whiskey”, the catchy pop of “Don’t Walk Alone” . Even when the sentimental, “Nowhere Without You”  ventures towards being too lovey-dovey and saccharine sweet, it doesn’t cross the line and leaves a smile on your face. Its not an overly diverse album, but has significant variation to keep the listener hooked. One of my favourite tracks is the hidden closer “Me and My Friend”, which could have very easily been called an ode to friendship. It’s a wonderful track, simple, but so effective. The use of the word “suburban” in the album title is no coincidence either, as it really has that everyday timeless, romantic feel to it.

 

For those of you that don’t know the album, and want to know what to compare the sound to, I have read various reviews that compare parts of it to the Beatles, Elliot Smith, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young, John Lennon, and even Burt Bacharach!  So I hope that mixed back of names helps in some way.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lx_lPyJluc

 

Coming up at #8 – one my favourite musicians, and Australian music legend….but which album?