Cole Withers - The Last Bookstore

Cole Withers 

​The Last Bookstore
self-released; 2018

​3.9 out of 5

By Jay Freeman

Cole Withers is a singer/songwriter based in Idyllwild, CA. His brand of music is deeply rooted in American soul, R&B and rock n’ roll. His current band has played throughout Southern California and they’ve been featured on NBC news in the Coachella Valley having only been together less than a year. The lyrics to his debut The Last Bookstore has been called “haunting” and “moving” and his sound has been compared to Bob Seger/Tom Petty/Bruce Springsteen by radio DJs and the press.

“Wash Away” breaks into an American rock n’ roll sound very reminiscent of Bob Seger’s work from the ‘70s. This was my first time hearing Withers’ and hell yeah, his voice is almost spot on Seger. “Mary Queen of Mt. Washington” features a faster, upbeat drive, jangling guitar rhythms with a sweet solo. Another fast driving song is “Surrender to Win” and Withers’ lyrics on this one are quite imaginative. His message is inspirational and, in a way, reminded me of Seger’s “Roll Me Away.”

“Rescue Me” slows things down with acoustic flavors and warm, bright guitars. Backing vocals added a great soul vibe and the guitar solo on this one was damn good, too. The spirit to this number reminded me of Petty’s “Free Falling.” “Eastern Standard” is another slower tune, more ballad like, and features saxophone. I liked this one for its melancholy vibe and Withers’s lyrics about reminiscing.

“As It Is” has been played on FM radio in the Midwest and I could tell why – it has a nice rock radio sound, with lyrics about falling in love, making love, catchy guitar licks and an excellent guitar solo. The break in between – where the bass guitar gets its two cents in – was especially good.

“Ghost of God” has a swinging beat and taps well into a soulful classic, R&B style. “Love Never Ends” features a great shuffling beat, worthy of getting on the dance floor. Wither’s lyrics get spiritual, as he sings about “the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end…love never ends.”  The track to the album’s title takes a more storytelling approach with lyrics about meeting a girl with a “scarf in her hair and reading Voltaire” inside a bookstore that is the last one to ever exist. The sounds of the guitars reminded me of the Grateful Dead or something on the softer end of ‘70s rock n’ roll. “Heartbeat Away” has a “wind-in-your-hair” open road sound and felt like a good way to end the album.

​If you like classic, American rock n’ roll reminiscent of Bob Seger and Springsteen, then Cole Withers’ The Last Bookstore is waiting for you to check out.

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