Ben Brookes put together an impressive lineup for his album The Motor Car & The Weather Balloon. He worked with drummer Michael Bland (Prince), keyboardist Greg Inhofer (Bob Dylan) as well as two members from Badfinger.
I found the album enjoyable with solid songwriting and obviously good performances. On that note the general vibe of the album felt a little dated with a lot of familiar moves that echoed a ’70s vibe that we have heard plenty of times before. You can hear influence from bands like Pink Floyd and I thought I heard some Rod Stewart in there as well. I think I just wanted some more advanced production techniques and out of the box experimentation rather than hearing another guitar solo. The songs were consistent and Brookes knows how to write a hook. “Crack A Smile” was a standout for me and I thought the backward sounding effects worked well. The song has a good mix of melancholy and hope. “Look Through My Eyes” is a solid rocker but the best moments come towards the end where the song slows down and a saxophone take the centerstage. There were a couple of other highlights such as “I Wanna Go Home,” “Stories In The Rain” and the reflective closer “Shackles.” I have no doubt there is an audience for this album. Brookes has talent which is immediately apparent and it's spread out evenly throughout the songs. I’m inclined to say that this album should immediately resonate with fans of classic rock. Overall, The Motor Car & The Weather Balloon wasn’t the most inventive album I have heard this year but the combination of exceptional production and performances with solid songwriting makes for a winning combination.
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