Daniel Romano is a modern singer/songwriter from Ontario, Canada, who came across my dashboard on Apple Music recently. According Romano’s bio on Apple Music, he incorporates sounds from 1950s Nashville and 1960s psychedelic rock with other influences to create his sound. I’m pretty stoked to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Workin’ for the Music Man” starts out with some really earthy acoustic guitar that seems to walk the line between country and folk. Oh wow, a harmonica comes into the soundscape and adds some flavor reminiscent of the early days of Bob Dylan. Oh wow, there’s a strange dissonant swirl for a moment that has a bit of a psychedelic feel. I really dig the heartbeat-like bass line in the track. Oh wow, I’m really digging this sound so far. Wow, great track and I’m excited to hear more.
“Missing Wind” starts with some meandering folksy guitar and some twang-inflected vocals that walk that country folk line again. Oh wow, a second vocalist comes in, as well as a pedal steel guitar to paint a country sky in the background. Wow, I’m really digging the sound of this album so far. There’s a really flavorful piano that adds some great movement to the soundscape. The sound of the track really does remind me a fair bit of 1960s country folk music. Great tune.
Oh wow, “A Losing Song” starts out with a strong beat, a bouncing bass line, and a pedal steel guitar that combine to paint a country soundscape that I’m really digging. The twangy electric guitar is super groovy. Oh wow, everything falls away except Romano’s voice and the backbeat for a moment. There’s a classic bluesy country feel in this track that has only pulled me further into the album. Great track.
“On the Night” begins with some gradually flowing acoustic guitar that is soon joined by a twangy, clean electric guitar sound that I’m really digging. Holy smokes, the fiddle comes in and dials up the classic country sounds way up in this track. The overall sound was almost like you were somehow watching the sun set over the ocean from Nashville. Wow, great tune.
“So Free” starts out with a couple snaps of the snare, and then the track gets moving along with acoustic guitar, a bass guitar, and some twangy vocals. Oh wow, a pedal steel guitar guitar paints a country sky in the background. Holy smokes, the female vocalist comes in and somehow makes the tune even more flavorful. Great track.
Oh wow, “She Was the World to Me” starts out with a sort of sweet, indie folk feel with the flowing acoustic guitar and the sweet harmonized vocals between Romano and the female vocalist. Oh wow, I’m really digging the flavors in this track. There’s a sort of reverberation in the vocals and guitar that quickly dissipates into the aether, creating a timeless sound that I’m really digging. I really dig the final guitar chords in this one. Wow, great tune.
“Poor Girls of Ontario” gets grooving right away with a pretty rockin’ beat and accompanied by some flavors from an acoustic guitar that move the tune around quite nicely. Holy smokes, the electric organs come swirling in and get the tune rockin’ about with some groovy flavors. Oh wow, there’s a real piano as well that further amplifies the flavors in the track with a rock and roll feel. Great track.
Oh wow, “Your Hands” has a super sweet country sound created by a classic country backbeat and some super sweet fiddle accompanied by some twangy vocals. I really dig the classic country feel of the acoustic guitar in this track. Super sweet tune.
Oh wow, “My Greatest Mistake” gets into a country gallop of sorts with the guitar work. The tremelo effect on the electric guitar seems to ripple throughout the soundscape while the acoustic guitar, bass, and drums keep the tune grooving steadily along. Holy smokes, a countryfied saxophone comes in with a super sweet part in the track. Great tune.
“Joseph Arthur” gets grooving along pretty quickly in the soundscape with a bouncy, sort of plucky guitar part that reminds me a bit of Les Paul and a sort of countryfied early rock and roll style. Oh wow, the swirling organs add a super sweet flavor to the track. Super sweet tune.
Holy smokes, “Workin’ for the Music Man Pt. 2” starts out with some super sweet harmonica, and is followed shortly by some earthy acoustic guitar work. Wow, I’m really digging this track so far. The overall sound of the track already feels very conclusory in terms of the rest of the album. Oh wow, the harmonized vocals between Romano and the female vocalist somehow adds even more sweetness to the track. This track has a really sweet, modern folk singer/songwriter feel that I really dig. Wow, great track and a great way to finish the album.
Wow, I’m very excited to check out the rest of Romano’s discography. If you’re a fan of old country folk of the 1960s, and also enjoy some psychedelic rock of the 1960s, then you might want to consider checking out this album. Though the album itself isn’t really psychedelic, there were still some flavors from the genre and some songs had the feel of rock and roll roots that combine with the country folk feel and modern sensibilities quite nicely. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A