review
review
M A V E R I C K M A G A Z I N E
the voice of country, folk, bluegrass and roots music
Tokyo Rosenthal.
WHO WAS THAT MAN?
Rock & Socks Records.
★★★★
Superb set of country-tinged storytelling
A veteran of the music industry Rosenthal was a latecomer to the Americana scene. After three decades as a performer his 2007 album ONE SCORE AND TEN gained plaudits especially in Europe and the UK. Releasing almost an album a year since then he continues to deliver fine and frothy country-tinged songs culminating in this release.
With ten songs crammed into 30 -odd minutes he’s gathered together a fine band of musicians on WHO WAS THAT MAN? Rhythm duties are handled by Will Rigby and Chris Stamey (who co-produced) of the dBs. Bobby Britt adds some fine vibrant fiddle, very much in the Scarlet Rivera style while the pedal steel of Allyn Love is sweet as honey. Guitar duties are shared between Rosenthal, Charlie Chamberlain and on one song, WarrenSharp.
Chamberlain adds mandolin and banjo on occasion. The end result is an ace band, sounding at times as if they’ve been lifted straight from Dylan’s Desire. In addition there is an added ingredient with the Mariachi horns of Pancho Ballard and the Banditos giving a Calexico type tang to some of the proceedings.
With such excellent musicianship on show Rosenthal has dug deep into his writing resources to provide material worthy of it and by and large he’s succeeded. Whether singing about his cat (Little Old Man) or an old school teacher who resurfaces years later in an ‘adult’ flick (The Librarian) his observations are spot on. The zenith is Maybe I’ve Been Where I’m Goin’ where the writing, singing and especially the playing are sublime with shades of Butch Hancock and Mike Nesmith lurking. Paul Keer
maverick magazine
Friday, August 12, 2011