Below is a translation of the 8.5 out of 10 review by Dutch music magazine Heaven, of Year Of The Dog, by Pieter Wijnstekers. Translated by Petra Heemskerk. With Thanks. Year Of The Dog is the third album from Brisbane, Australia based singer-songwriter Phil Smith and the album cover (a moody black / white photo of Smith against a black background) is as bare and honest as the music he presents to us. Or perhaps not because, although the basis of Smiths beautiful songs are shaped by his voice and guitar, as well as banjo, they are usually subtly further coloured by piano, violin, mandolin, pedal steel, cello and harmonica. It lends the album a wonderful folky atmosphere that, along with Smiths beautiful voice, is reminiscent of comparable troubadours like Neil Young, Nick Drake or Ryan Adams, all three artists whose quality Smith approaches here. All this makes the Year Of The Dog an album that is as timeless as it is touchingly classic. One that perhaps will be overshadowed by albums that are more self congratulatory, but that will ultimately last at least a lifetime.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:04:22 +0000