Proving that pop and rock were never the opposing camps that their followers often thought, or at least if they were, they were opposites that, in the right hands at least, come together to make very attractive music, Gary Hubber’s latest album, A Dangling Thread, is a glorious exercise in the art of addictive songwriting. Something that you will have worked out for yourselves before the masterful opener, “Running From the Light,” is even halfway through.
Beyond this opening salvo of life-affirming 60’s vibes and danceable power-pop energy, he applies this ability to mix poised pop with rock-and-roll drive to a wide range of styles and sounds, all of which sound both adventurous and consistently Hubber-esque!
“Hear It From You” would fit right into an early Dire Straits album, the same blend of virtuoso guitars and ornate melodies, accessibility and effortless artistry: “I Break Free” errs on the seductive and understated, it’s message one of the salvation that the perfect partner can bring to your life and “I’m Your Prisoner” is reminiscent of Tom Petty’s poignancy and power, not just in the musical sense but here specifically how relationships become addictive, even when you know that the balance is far too one sided.
A Dangling Thread is a showcase of accessible pop-aware rock music…or perhaps vice versa. It reminds us that the skilled artist can mix sonic oil and musical water, and the result is always more fascinating, more eclectic, more exciting, and more beguiling than either one on its own.
A great album, full of great songs, it’s as simple as that.
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