Ink Blot's Cream of the Crop - David Stephenson

David Stephenson
It's All In Your Head
Pollinator Records

Download an MP3 of Julie

Lyrics are supposed to sound good. You know, when you sing along in the car at the top of your voice. When the song pokes its way into your brain while you're trying to concentrate at work. Never mind content: Lyrics are supposed to be catchy, rhythmic. Inspirational. Cool. Simple. Unforgettable. My favorite lyric of all time is just Shaun Ryder saying his own name in the Happy Mondays' "Hallelujah." It's just the way he says it: "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, from Shaun ... William ... Ryyyyyduhhh." Perfect.

Songwriters who have that way with words, that ability to make any phrase sound like rock 'n' roll, they're always interesting, no matter what they're saying, what key it's being said in, or how many guitars and drums are trying to drown out the words. David Stephenson has it. I could write out the lyrics from It's All In Your Head until my fingers cramped, but I could never make you understand why they all have permanent residence in my head, why they fill up my mouth while I'm walking up stairs or trying to fall asleep. Please please please download "Julie" and hear for yourself.

David Stephenson is the real deal. This record's lo-fi as hell but it's incredibly sophisticated at the same time; the more I listen to it, the less I can believe this guy isn't every bit as famous/revered as Elvis Costello or Paul Westerberg (two obvious comparisons). As a songwriter, Stephenson not only has a ridiculous way with a phrase, he brims with inspiration, packing these 16 songs with his sometimes surreal, sometimes resonant, always interesting thoughts on paranoia, alcoholism, love, and avenging John Lennon's murder. The arrangements are adventurous (check that out-of-time backing part at the end of "Julie"), the songs catchy and to the point (most under 2:30), and the vision both self-assured and humble.

You get the feeling that David Stephenson has 12 more albums like this in him. I hope he does. I hope he has the opportunity to put them out. And I hope sometime around the third one the world wakes up and falls in love with his songs like I have.

For fans of:
Elvis Costello Armed Forces
The Replacements Pleased to Meet Me
Michael Penn March

-- Jesse Fahnestock

Ink Blot Home
about | archives | contact | links John Fahey & Cul De Sac