If Bruce Springsteen made pop records, this is what they’d sound like. Okay, that is a bit of a throwaway, rhetorical statement, but it does get to the heart of the sound that Shawn Brown gets on his latest single, “What A Way To Go.” Actually, it’s not really a pop song at all, something that becomes increasingly clear as the song progresses and cocoons itself in ever more sophisticated sonic layers. I guess it is more a heartland rock song blessed with very pop-aware songwriting chops, which is a pretty good place to write from. Artistry meets accessibility! Cool!
“What A Way To Go” is the tale of two people clinging to their love of each other in a world that seems increasingly difficult to navigate, and whilst lyrical, smart, thematically timeless, and increasingly timely, for me it is the music that is the real charm.
As I said rather clumsily at the start, there is an infectious quality found here, accessibility, contagion even, one that doesn’t diminish as it adds all manner of sonic layers – pianos move from single notes to cascades, guitars grow through layers of solid rhythms, clever motifs and blazing riffs, additional harmonies join the throng and the basslines act as the engine room whilst finding melodic lines to fill the spaces. This is the sound of rock music learning lessons from its older generic sibling and then turning its newfound skills to its own, more anthemic ends.
Think Petty, think Mellencamp, think the Boss…but don’t think twice about adding this to your record collection.
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