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“I’d rather fight with you than smile alone,” sings Ted Russell Kamp calmly on “Smile Alone,” the opening cut of his latest LP. If only Nashville was pumping out country songs with that kind of understated (as opposed to widescreen) pathos…but no. For that, we have the ever-reliable Kamp, who bequeaths another fine set of melodic country rock tunes on Night Owl.
Unsurprisingly, given the title image of a lonely soul contemplating life at 2:00 in the morning, the record revolves around ballads and low-volume tunes, all infused with warm soul. Not to mention affairs of the heart – few write so plainly about the ups, downs and sideways quicksteps of love as Kamp and his various co-authors. “Where Out West” (co-written with fellow traveler Dave Gleason), “My Songs For You” and “Another Love Song” (in two versions) capture the ambivalence of passion with a grace and plainspoken honesty no longer in fashion in mainstream country music. Penultimate track “When the Radio Goes Dead,” recorded solo, strips away even the pretext of human contact for a stark commentary on a world surrounded by information but devoid of connection.
Modesty and an unwillingness to play games likely prevent Kamp from getting the acclaim he deserves (seriously, where are his Americana Music Association awards?), so don’t let the heartfelt, soulful music suffusing Night Owl pass you by.
