I have always had a soft spot for the simple things in life, so it is always a pleasure to come across a simple, pure album, just a guy his guitar and some songs. Such an album is ‘The Troubadour’ by David Harbuck.
Harbuck hails from one of my favorite towns, Savannah Georgia. His first album was a full band affair, but his normal gigging practice was as a one man band, so for this his second release from 1997, he created a much more intimate affair, for the most part just David, his acoustic guitar and his excellent, world-weary voice.
He writes musical stories, slices of life so vivid you can almost taste the bitter disappointment in the cards life has played you, a theme that runs through this album. The guitar varies from simple acoustic to bluesy slide, but anyone looking for musical innovation or fireworks is in the wrong place, this is simple and pure. Nothing here claims to be that original, it is an album of old tales retold, an album that is familiar and comforting rather than exciting and challenging. That is not a criticism though, there is only so much experimentation you can applaud before you want to kick back with an uncomplicated, unchallenging album like this.
There are ten tracks here, each one a guaranteed coffee house classic, he is the kind of artists you would love to just stumble across in some small intimate venue, as I said a coffee house, or a bar. Someone to drink to as you mellow in a dark environment, someone to help you drift away from the realities of the world outside.
If you have a taste for acoustic music that comes from the heart rather than because MTV thinks it is cool then give this CD a spin, you will be amazed at how much you enjoy it.

Band Website | Contact Band | Give Us Feedbaxk on Review