Sacred Chickens
  • Sacred Chickens Blog
  • Books, Podcasts, and Other Fun Stuff
  • Contact
  • Sacred Chickens Blog
  • Books, Podcasts, and Other Fun Stuff
  • Contact

Music Review: Sincerely, Iris- I'm Not the Same

10/21/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

I'm Not the Same
Author, Sincerely, Iris

by Roy Peak 

One of my favorite musical surprises from a few years back was an EP titled The License Plate Sessions by musician Todd Murray, who goes under the moniker Sincerely, Iris. Dark, swirling, and moody—the songs written and played bottle-neck style on a four-string guitar made from the license plate of one of Murray's cars—they grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let go. A few years have passed since then, and now from Sincerely, Iris we get I'm Not the Same, a full length release with plenty of dark and distorted tones, mournful vocals, and some rather majestic passages.

​All of Murray's releases seem to have a common thread running through them. Someone is running away from darkness, into (hopefully) redemption. Murray's characters might not know where they're running to, or often times even why they're running, but they're running nonetheless, headlong into whatever fate awaits them, or just as often, away from a memory. 
 
The first half of this album is modern blues, gritty and heartfelt, fueled by the license plate guitar, a tone of dark mystery throughout. These are the songs that well up in you alone on a stormy highway, heat lightning in the air, driving fast and reckless, the trees like spirits as you fly on past. The title track growls and slithers satisfyingly. "Traveling Man" (probably my favorite on this album) turns standard blues tropes sideways with its smart and defiant wordplay wrapped around a 6/8 guitar figure. "Falling Backwards" is psychedelic folk, while "Revenge Blues" turns the skies darker before the next group of songs on the album open up as if the storm, so threatening before, is finally ready to break and wash away the world. The chorus of "Who Do You Love" hits just as the sun rises on your shoulder and then you drive effortlessly into the final song, "Not Goodbye, Goodnight," which closes the album out with a sunset drive through the states, turning the darker memories of before into fondness and longing and hope.
 
Sincerely, Iris knows how to arrange an album that feels like a journey, here's to the next one.
 
You can find I'm Not the Same by Sincerely Iris on all the usual digital platforms, directly from him at one of his many gigs, or at his website sincerelyiris.com. And hey, follow him on Facebook so you can check out his tour schedule and some of the many wonderful videos he posts!

Picture
​
Bio:
Roy Peak has played electric bass in more bands than he cares to remember for more years than he can remember. He wrote the theme song for the Utica, New York radio show "Hey You Kids, Get Off My Lawn" on WPNR-FM. His solo debut album, All Is Well, has been called "Loud, cacophonous, and beautiful by a truly unique artist." His short fiction has been published in The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. He writes music reviews for The Rocking Magpie in the UK and King Tut Vintage Album Museum of Jacksonville.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    ​BUY NOW!

    Click Photo above to buy ebook or paperback from Amazon.

    ​Here's the link to
    Barnes and Noble

    Or order through your favorite independent bookstore!​
    email Julie

    Categories

    All
    Author Spotlight
    Blog Post
    Digging In
    Essay
    Film/Tv Review
    Gardening
    Music Review
    Original Poem
    Original Story
    Poetry
    Politics
    Random Thoughts
    Recommendations
    Review
    Uncle Morty
    Uncle Morty On Writing
    Weekend Reading
    Writing Contest

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    October 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed