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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Review: Leon Live - Childhood [EP]


Leon Live – Childhood [EP]
2008, Summertime Records


Wow. Leon Evans in a Welsh singer-songwriter with guitar in hand and heart on his sleeve. Hailing from the town of Aberdare, Leon Live writes and performs emotionally honest diary entries set to music. There is no attempt at song craft or obfuscation; Leon Live simply gives his heart and mind in each and every song. The result is an incredibly nuanced, human experience in music. Leon’s debut EP, Childhood, is proof.

Childhood opens with Child Of Hell, a sharply pointed and poignant song about the unseen power a broken home can inflict on a child. Leon Live pulls no punches in painting a brutally honest portrait of the pain and confusion such things can incur. All of this is delivered in an upbeat acoustic rock arrangement in a vibrant rock voice. Blinded heads toward a southern acoustic rock sound (ala Pat McGee) in a song of pure desire. This one is very catchy and would play well to adult pop radio. Your Tears Are Mine is a beautiful guitar-based Americana tune that sounds a bit like Blue Rodeo. Memoirs Of A Dreamer has a thoroughly memorable melody that you don’t be able to shake. You’ll be humming this one for days. Leon Live closes out with Home, a down-tempo Americana tune you’ll have on replay. This is the class of the EP. Don’t be surprised if this song gets picked up by other artists to record.

Leon Live has a distinctive sound that will get your attention, and he’s a good enough songwriter to keep it. A strong, occasionally raspy voice fits perfectly with Leon’s songs, and the arrangements are top notch. Childhood is a keeper.

Rating: 4 Stars
(Out of 5)

You can learn more about Leon Evans at http://www.leonlive.co.uk/, where you can purchase a copy of Childhood.

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