Local singer-songwriter Kevin Alexander will release new record
After having performed across the region for the past decade, Central New York native Kevin Alexander has only recently transitioned to being a full-time musician.
Now he’s celebrating that career change with the release of his second album, “Girls & Other Beasties.”
The record is a follow-up to his 2017 release, “The Lovely” and caps a busy recording year for the singer-songwriter.
“Last year I released an album which was a collection of acoustic covers, called Cobalt: Acoustic Covers Vol 1,” says Kevin. “I intend to release several more of these. I’m very excited to share ‘Girls & Other Beasties’ with everyone and I have been working very hard on preparing other new things planned to come.”
The result is a solid, all-original 12-song record with elements of country, folk rock, pop, progressive, alternative/indie rock and even a taste of Celtic folk. If you listen carefully, you may hear suggestions of Mumford and Sons, early Gordon Lightfoot and John Prine, among others.
While the creation of the songs spanned a period of years, the album still feels cohesive.
“While the songs were all written separately and may seem disparate, they were pulled together in a way that I felt fit a common theme,” notes Alexander. “The title of the album is trying to hint at a certain awe, reverence, and yielding to the characters that appear in the songs, human and otherwise.”
With an emphasis on delicate acoustic guitars and multilayered acoustic instruments, Alexander doesn’t rock out on this record. And he’s fine with that.
“My influences are very wide-ranging across all genres, but I am most struck by folk music,” Alexander explains. “My music isn’t something you’d listen to when you’re in a club or on a marathon run, but more a sort of introspective music to be listened to in a domestic setting.”
While the tracks are all consistently solid, there are a few in particular that stand out.
Alexander catches our attention with the album’s opening track, “Thoughts of You,” where the instrumentation of tin whistle and mandolin effectively evokes a flavor of modern Irish folk-rock.
“The Anchor,” an alt-country track featuring a driving bridge, reminds us that an anchor can simultaneously hold you steady or drag you down.
“Above These Barking Dogs” creates an almost progressive vibe with its hypnotically syncopated drum beat and skillfully layered textures, and the record comes to a satisfying close with “Finding Home,” a gentle song about finding home in the company of one’s partner.
But don’t worry, any groove you drop the needle on (ask your parents, kids) will be worth your time.
On Monday, Oct. 16, the album will be available to be downloaded or streamed on most online platforms.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Kevin Alexander: Central NY singer-songwriter releasing new album
