Album Review- Dan Burnette: Before We Began III

This is the 3rd album in my friend Dan Burnettes Before We Began series and was released independently in 2013. Now some may wonder why am i reviewing something that is so far under the radar. Me and Dan are both musicians who collaborate with each other frequently. Recently, i released my four song Country Western/ Blues ep simply titled  JS a few weeks ago. For my birthday he has decided to review it so i thought i would review one of his as well. I chose this one because ive listened to it more thoroughly. Now lest get into the review

Track Rundown

1.Dick Chaney Hates Ghosts- Starting with some folky sounding riffs and i know the lyrics may seem pretty obscure but its an inside joke of a song basically about something i said my sophomore year of highschool. But anyway, this song was improvised mainly if you were in my shoes you would understand the concept about it more. Really obscure opener but like i said, you have to know more to get it.

2.Kraut-stjil -This is a pretty cool instrumental it sounds like something from any strange art film it really reminds me of Nosferatu for some reason it has some kind of eeriness to it. Some cool piano runs that go on and on that actually make for an interesting listen.

3.(farewell to) My Delicate, Lovely Woman-I like the chords played on this song and it has more of a serious approach to it dealing with more personal themes about my friends personal life. Its the first song that really a more broad audience could listen to and would be an interesting live track. I like the fade out too.

4.(Everyday) I've Learned to Pray- I also like this song and that it touches more personal feelings and with more matured lyrics. Chords are again folky sounding as well.

5.Fly Towards The Wall-the fade in is really peaceful on this track and so are the guitars. there are some really cool backround echos i really like it shows the progression from his earlier work. The end is amazing in my opinion just the spacey feel gives off a really cool vibe.

6.Falling Into You- this kind of reminds me of something like bob dylan would write it is really well put together its a nice track.

7.J-Note Theory- I like this track which has a deep feeling. The lyrics are very nice with the calm sounding chords another mature and good solid sounding song.

8.Greatest Hits(Best Shots)-Very spanish sounding at the beginning with the sitar sounding guitar and goes into a more experimental phase which is what he is more into. the lyrics are more spoken than sang here as well with many different tempo changes gives a good atmosphere.

9.Laced/lapsed/lost-The very echoish beginning is awesome i really like it sounds like a helicopter flying overhead and is kind of droning sounding which segways nicely into some pleasnat acoustics. It really sounds like hes playing in a big abandoned warehouse i like it.

10.ça-My favorite track because of the story. Most wont get it unless they were told it. It basically goes about a kid that took over my spot in one of my old bands and he bragged to me constantly how they won some contest. It just makes me laugh everyone i hear it but thats my personal opinion again most wont get it unless they know the whole story.

11.Shock-I like that my friend gets a really 12 string sound here even though hes using a standard 6 string but the effect is quite beautiful. The in and out vocals are cool too sounds kind repetitive at parts but still pretty original.

12.Ravage The Village-Some elctric guitar but again a tad repetitive but i think he was going for a more kind of feel like that with this song.

13.The Spanish Man from the Banter-Pleasant acoustics again the beginning kinf of reminds me of acdcs overdose with the pause. The vocals really shine here to me with the effects layered over them.

14.Acronymous- the wah wah guitar i really like and is unexpected at this point to have something like that in the album. this, however is another more experimental track that might not appeal to everyone.

15.He Who is Supreme- I like the single string progressions at the beginning reminds of something around a campfire.  The whole track does actually its a nice calm instrumental and even though i dont smoke weed sounds like something someone would smoke to its that calming.

16.State of Fair-Sounds like something i would write in fact and is another"deeper feeling" feeling tracks within the lyrical content i like it.

17.This Must Be It?-My favorite track it just has a more dark tone to me than everything else. It seems so serious as well and is a great dramatic closer to me as well.

Overall, I give this album on scale as an independent release a 8ish out of 10. My friend Dan really matured with this piece and wrote some solid tracks on here that would sound good at a live show which he has played two and honestly some time in the future i would like us to do a double bill kind of thing since he taught me more about other scopes of music. Its up for a free download at http://www.last.fm/music/Dan+Burnette/Before+we+Began+III and if your feeling a bit more adventurous, check out his other pieces as well.