Description
Water & Guns is the fourth solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and producer Aaron Sprinkle of Poor Old Lu fame, released on BEC Recordings in September 2013, a division of Tooth & Nail Records.
It is all down to perspective I guess. ‘Water and Guns’ is the newest solo record (the first proper solo album since 2001’s ‘Bareface‘, as ‘Lack Luster‘ was a compilation of his 3 solo records) from uber-producer, Aaron Sprinkle. In reading other reviews of this album I gather that this is a natural progression from Sprinkle’s last record with his band, Fair. Yet, when I first listened to this disc, I was a little taken aback with the dominance of electronic instrumentation and dance rhythms present. It seems like Aaron has been wood-shedding with friend Ronnie Martin, from Joy Electric. Now, Sprinkle is a guitar player by trade, so there are still plenty of acoustic strums and electric drangs to be heard (see what I did there?) but this is largely a pure pop record. Thankfully, Sprinkle is a master tunesmith, and the songs on ‘Water and Guns’ are impeccably crafted with intricacies that reveal themselves with repeated listening. Ultimately, a good song is a good song, and this as strong a song cycle as ever from Sprinkle’s pen.
«Heatstroke» sounds a little like a lost Owl City out-take, yet with something substantial to say, while «Alright» continues the pop/electronic bent while doling out a message of encouragement: “When you can’t see the light, it’ll be alright.”
«Whisper Something», and «Turn Around», while still featuring some electronic instrumentation, also balance things out with adroitly placed acoustics and piano, along with Beatle-esque song structures. «I’ve Missed You» mixes stuttered drum loops with a Sprinkle-played piano figure that recalls the classic feel of Motown while keeping a thoroughly modern feel.
So to sum up: The engine of this vehicle is a strong as ever, but the more subdued chassis may not appeal to exactly the same crowd as has enjoyed his past work. Truthfully, ‘Water and Guns’ could gain an even bigger audience for the singer/songwriter/producer, and the strength of his song-craft will keep the interest of fans more fond of his rock oriented offerings. [Shawn McLaughlin, Christian Musician, November/December 2013]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/water-guns/1538048291)
CD tracklist:
01. Heatstroke – 3:30
02. Alright – 3:15
03. Whisper Something – 3:31
04. Can’t Last Forever – 3:15
05. Later On – 3:39
06. River of Lead – 3:49
07. Turn Around – 3:12
08. Giving Up the Gun – 4:08
09. I’ve Missed You – 3:19
10. Washboard Road – 3:36
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.