Gregory Robson
04/16/10, 05:33 AM
Greg Fine - Always Time
Record Label: Self-released
Release Date: Aug. 12, 2009
Let this be known: Greg Fine does not make music for commercial success. While this is an adage worn by nearly every struggling musician, it may indeed be true for Fine. You see, the Long Island-based songwriter plays a gig about as often as a lunar eclipse. That is to say, six gigs in a year is a good year for Fine. For reasons unknown he's preferred to stay far from the limelight and aside from an occasional gig at New York City's famed The Living Room, he's pretty much off the map. His debut full-length, Always Time, took six years to make and that duration is probably a bit misleading. Though Always Time is far from perfect, it's infectious and inviting and warrants repeat listens.
The disc opens with the haunting and hazy "The Whale," which serves to introduce Fine's rich vocals to the listener. The song feels more groove-basd than anything and seems to rest on the laurels of a playful guitar line. In truth, the entire exercise feels a bit distant, that is until the latter half when layers of swirls and swells envelop the performance. As it fades off into the distance, there's an undeniable urge for more, a theme that is revisited at various points throughout the disc.
Should-be single and should-be mix-tape staple "Into the Light of Dawn," throws a lingering and languorous chorus into a muffled and hypnotic jaunt that proves Fine's ability to tackle the unconventional while still remaining accessible and coherent. What's most striking about the song is that it sounds wholly different from "The Whale," and whether it serves as a vessel to broadcast Fine's range or just as a vehicle to move the disc forward, its placement is both appreciated and slightly confusing.
The sentiment of confusion is carried forward in the introspective tandem that frames the disc's early half. "Come Back Again," and "Gold," are intimate, acoustic offerings that show Fine's coffeehouse soul, but do very little to push him ahead of his contemporaries and peers. He tries to avenge that with the title track, a blistering, piercing nugget that manages to carve a rather indelible impression in just four short minutes. Fine is known in singer-songwriter circles for his haunting and chill-inducing vocals and "Always Time," is evident proof of that very claim. The best part about the song is that it proves to be a jumping off point as the rest of the disc is nearly flawless. "I Wish That I Could Stay," is tender and touching, while "Morning," is somber and despondent. As with most of his work, his voice guides the performances.
The ethereal instrumental "Inner City Light," follows and introduces Fines love of loops and recording effects, but it's placement feels a bit out of sorts. An instrumental is nice, but why couldn't have been pushed a bit higher on the tracklisting? On the heels of that is the pensive cut "I Was Just Leaving," which probably could have been thrown towards the disc's earlier half and feels a bit lost here. Another instrumental "Spontaneous Sea," follows before eight-minute album closer "The Libra," makes its claim as arguably Fine's finest work to date.
If the disc sounds meandering and unfocused that's because it is. Vacillating between singer-songwriter introspection and coffeehouse creativity is certainly a novel concept but the execution still feels a bit muddled. Being that it's just a debut there's certainly room for improvement and considering the bumper crop of flash-in-the-pan one-trick ponies, Fine's disc is certainly a welcome addition to the crowded lot of singer-songwriters. But is there enough here to push Fine forward into the greater consciousness? As of now, only "Into the Light of Dawn," "I Wish That I Could Stay," and "The Libra," prove that. Perhaps his sophomore album will prove otherwise.
1. The Whale
2. Into the Light of Dawn
3. Come Back Again
4. Gold
5. Always Time
6. I Wish That I Could Stay
7. Morning
8. Inner City Light
9. I Was Just Leaving
10. Spontaneous Sea
11. The Libra
Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Bon Iver, Band of Horses, Sun Kil Moon
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/gregfine)
Website (http://www.gregfine.net)
Record Label: Self-released
Release Date: Aug. 12, 2009
Let this be known: Greg Fine does not make music for commercial success. While this is an adage worn by nearly every struggling musician, it may indeed be true for Fine. You see, the Long Island-based songwriter plays a gig about as often as a lunar eclipse. That is to say, six gigs in a year is a good year for Fine. For reasons unknown he's preferred to stay far from the limelight and aside from an occasional gig at New York City's famed The Living Room, he's pretty much off the map. His debut full-length, Always Time, took six years to make and that duration is probably a bit misleading. Though Always Time is far from perfect, it's infectious and inviting and warrants repeat listens.
The disc opens with the haunting and hazy "The Whale," which serves to introduce Fine's rich vocals to the listener. The song feels more groove-basd than anything and seems to rest on the laurels of a playful guitar line. In truth, the entire exercise feels a bit distant, that is until the latter half when layers of swirls and swells envelop the performance. As it fades off into the distance, there's an undeniable urge for more, a theme that is revisited at various points throughout the disc.
Should-be single and should-be mix-tape staple "Into the Light of Dawn," throws a lingering and languorous chorus into a muffled and hypnotic jaunt that proves Fine's ability to tackle the unconventional while still remaining accessible and coherent. What's most striking about the song is that it sounds wholly different from "The Whale," and whether it serves as a vessel to broadcast Fine's range or just as a vehicle to move the disc forward, its placement is both appreciated and slightly confusing.
The sentiment of confusion is carried forward in the introspective tandem that frames the disc's early half. "Come Back Again," and "Gold," are intimate, acoustic offerings that show Fine's coffeehouse soul, but do very little to push him ahead of his contemporaries and peers. He tries to avenge that with the title track, a blistering, piercing nugget that manages to carve a rather indelible impression in just four short minutes. Fine is known in singer-songwriter circles for his haunting and chill-inducing vocals and "Always Time," is evident proof of that very claim. The best part about the song is that it proves to be a jumping off point as the rest of the disc is nearly flawless. "I Wish That I Could Stay," is tender and touching, while "Morning," is somber and despondent. As with most of his work, his voice guides the performances.
The ethereal instrumental "Inner City Light," follows and introduces Fines love of loops and recording effects, but it's placement feels a bit out of sorts. An instrumental is nice, but why couldn't have been pushed a bit higher on the tracklisting? On the heels of that is the pensive cut "I Was Just Leaving," which probably could have been thrown towards the disc's earlier half and feels a bit lost here. Another instrumental "Spontaneous Sea," follows before eight-minute album closer "The Libra," makes its claim as arguably Fine's finest work to date.
If the disc sounds meandering and unfocused that's because it is. Vacillating between singer-songwriter introspection and coffeehouse creativity is certainly a novel concept but the execution still feels a bit muddled. Being that it's just a debut there's certainly room for improvement and considering the bumper crop of flash-in-the-pan one-trick ponies, Fine's disc is certainly a welcome addition to the crowded lot of singer-songwriters. But is there enough here to push Fine forward into the greater consciousness? As of now, only "Into the Light of Dawn," "I Wish That I Could Stay," and "The Libra," prove that. Perhaps his sophomore album will prove otherwise.
1. The Whale
2. Into the Light of Dawn
3. Come Back Again
4. Gold
5. Always Time
6. I Wish That I Could Stay
7. Morning
8. Inner City Light
9. I Was Just Leaving
10. Spontaneous Sea
11. The Libra
Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Bon Iver, Band of Horses, Sun Kil Moon
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/gregfine)
Website (http://www.gregfine.net)