Dylan Kloska - Country Time

Dylan Kloska

Country Time
​self-released; 2020

3.7 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​

Dylan Kloska is an artist from Chicago who recently released Country Time. There are four songs all of which are under three minutes. The recording quality is noticeably different on each one of these tracks. That being said the songs are all very similar which consists of strummed guitar chords and vocals.

The first song is entitled “Funny” which is a straightforward folk song. Kloska strums a couple of minor and major chords and there is some occasional lead guitar that is in the song as well. The vocals contain one prominent melody that repeats and there is no bridge, chorus or an outro to the song. It stopped a bit unexpectedly and came in just over a minute. It felt like an intro.

Up next is “July” which again consists of strummed major and minor chords but this time there is a phaser effect which you could argue was a little too intense. The mood is sort of the bread and butter archetype of the tortured singer/songwriter that whispers universal truths into your ear like “you can be love/you can be happiness.” That being said there aren’t many lyrics. Some of the song is simply strummed chords and the phaser effect with another lead over it. This is a song that seemed like a big chorus or hook was coming but it actually doesn't. The song goes into just instrumental again and the phaser effect takes over the song. I liked it quite a bit and kept me on my toes.

“From, A Simpler Love In Time'' is another simple folk song that contains strummed major and minor chords. It’s got an older bohemian folk style similar to the countless artists that came out of the scene in the late ’60s that were influenced by Bob Dylan.  It felt like the highlight to my ear and I really liked the outro.

“Come And Look At My Place Now” is similar to “From, A Simpler Love In Time” in both tone and mood. The song is very lo-fi which works here. There is some reverb-like rumbling effect that works well in the song.

I liked the mood and emotion on the release. Musically, I wish there was a little more to grab onto especially technically speaking. Perhaps some guitar picking, dissonance or augmented 13th chords. Just something that felt a little experimental or off-kilter.

Overall, I thought this was a solid batch of straightforward folk songs. His lyrics and vocals were consistently impressive. I look forward to hearing where he goes from here.

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