CD REVIEW: Jim Gallant - Old Hat with a New Coat
By Cyrus Rhodes - Chief Music Critic at Muses Muse. www.indiemusicdigest.com & www.kataviarts.com````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Artist: Jim GallantAlbum: Old Hat witha New Coat
Label: Independent Artist
Website: http://www.jimgallant.com
Genre: Americana, Folk, Acoustic
The CD kicks things off with "Joshua" an upbeat intro piece that serves up classic Americana vibe that delivers slamming fiddle, driving rhythm, & rich harmonies & hooky melody from Gallant. Track 2 "Pilgrims Song" keeps things moving with its smooth flowing rhythm, impressive solo guitar accents, & classic Americana groove. Track 3 shifts gears up a notch with Blind Ted Darby classic "I Never Cried" a classic guitar driven melody with slamming Banjo, driving rhythm, & passionate vocals from Gallant that flows & ebbs it’s way through to emotional fruition. This CD makes a solid first impression dishing out 3 solid tracks in arrow. As this CD slowly unfolds I can hear many different musical soundscapes reminiscent of such classic acts like Kingston trio, Peter Paul & Mary, & Lyle Lovitt.The music itself is an amazing blend of modern acoustic folk, with Americana roots with an unmistakable country, bluegrass, & R&B vibe. The musicianship of all the players involved is equally as impressive. Gallant brings a slew of impressive session players to the table. You will notice lush layers of instrumentation layered everywhere, from impressive solo guitar licks, well placed harmonies, impressive banjo licks, fiddles & mandolin. But the most impressive thing about Old Hat with a New Coat is the impressive songwriting & vocal persona from Gallant. From upbeat "Whaleback Mountain Night" & Rings" to Celtic "Ballad of Billy D Byron" & Penny Candy Man" to grooving "Buffalo Bill" this CD has something for just about everyone. The CD ends with "Ain’t No Future In That" the perfect finale statement for a CD of this caliber.
From start to finish Old Hat with a New Coat by Jim Gallant is one impressive catalog of music. The music is consistent, uplifting, & extremely entertaining. Note for note, song for song there isn’t really a weak piece on this entire catalog. The writing & playing abilities of Gallant & company & his band is rock solid. The lyrics are catchy, & the melodies are well crafted & hooky. Last but not least the songwriting & vocal presence from front Jim Gallant is world-class. It’s no wonder Jim Gallant is as popular as he is out east.
