News — bmr008

John Calvin Abney “Safe Passage” (Black Mesa Records, 2019) First impressions count, and the stylish but relaxed artistic photos on this album cover speak volumes before any songs are even heard. The first track ‘I Just Want to Feel Good’ does just what it says on the tin. Its bright and sparkly intro setting the scene for this ‘Maybe Happy’ album of ten original songs from Abney, which showcase his vast musical ability. On the whole, this is a great album. The Sprinsteenesque harmonica and awesome beat in ‘When The Dark Winds Blow’ give it superb aplomb and make it a truly...

Hear Ya – John Calvin Abney – Safe Passage (album review) John Calvin Abney is one of the finest guitarists you’ve probably heard on a record but had no idea he existed. He has played with countless artists over the years and it was supporting that John Moreland when I was left slack-jawed at his playing. For his solo stuff, you’d half expect to just bury you under a mountain of guitar mastery. For his solo stuff, he has opted for folksy Americana that is contemplative as opposed to flashy. Safe Passage, the follow up to 2018’s Coyote, came out...

Oklahoma musician John Calvin Abney forges a hopeful tone with new album 'Safe Passage' A version of this story appears in Friday's Weekend Life section of The Oklahoman. To read my interview with Beau Jennings, click here.  John Calvin Abney sets hopeful tone with second album in two years, 'Safe Passage' John Calvin Abney's brain sometimes just gets full. "I just felt like I needed to get another collection of tunes out. I had a lot to say, and I write all the time, wherever I am. There's only so much brain space, so you just write it down and...

10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Lauren Alaina, John Calvin Abney John Calvin Abney, “Maybe Happy”Written during a European tour with John Moreland, “Maybe Happy” nods to Elliott Smith with its woozily lush arrangement and classic pop turns. The song’s accompanying album, Safe Passage, was released shortly after the death of Abney’s father, and “Maybe Happy” — the record’s closer — feels like a farewell to a longtime friend, with its nostalgic haze and warm, bittersweet bite. ROBERT CRAWFORD

Perfectly positioned so that each song takes you on a continuously looping journey, the new album is a front-to-back artistic assemblage that is a callback to classic albums that Abney himself has worn out on the turntable such as Bob Dylan’s “Blood On The Tracks.” And while there were some 20 other songs that ultimately didn’t make the record and instead ended up in his curious box of wayward songs, the Norman, Oklahoma native is never sorry to see them go.