Pharoe Quinn - Maybe Tomorrow

Pharoe Quinn

Maybe Tomorrow
self-released; 2013

3.6 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Pharoe Quinn aka Daniel Quinn is a solo act who plays almost all the instruments which include vocals and acoustic guitar as well as delving into some programming on his recent release entitled Maybe Tomorrow. The album contains 13 solid pop songs that have elements from everything from country, to rock and alternative. It is a nice variety of styles and that help with breaking things up over the 13 tracks. Quinn writes songs that are easily digestible and some have a propensity to feel a bit too commercial for my liking. That being said the production is top-notch thanks to Todd Barriage at Borland Studio and the songs are well written. Quinn’s vocals are clear and sit well within the mix. The guitar sounds crisp and has a great tone as well as the drums, which don't sound too over produced.

The album opens with loud rocker “Bones.” At right under two minutes the song almost serves as an intro but it shouldn't be overlooked. You immediately get a genre change with “I Don’t Even Know You.” The verse has this 90’s Sublime vibe going on as he is on the verge on rapping at points while the chorus rocks. The best part of the song is when he says “and I just think you might, be alright.” 

"Let Me Go” is the first song on the album that has an undercurrent of melancholy as well as a cascading piano and a soaring guitar solo. I noticed a bit of a country- alternative happening on “Gunslinger” while “We Were Young featuring Shauna Irene” starts as off an acoustic song that later explodes with a huge sounding chorus with all the bell and whistles including a great vocal performance by Shauna Irene. “Missing” is the most melancholy song on the album but also feels like one of the most heartfelt. Quinn doesn't push his vocals too hard in this song and it works better because of it. “New Set Of Eyes” is another highlight because of the catchy chorus and overall summer time vibe it omits.

The biggest flaw of Maybe Tomorrow is that it doesn't work that great in the framework of an album. The sequencing of the songs as well as the different styles is difficult to listen to in one sitting. The way to look at it is just a collection of singles. Some of the songs hit the bulls-eye and are enjoyable in and of itself while others didn't quite do it for me. Overall the good qualities outweigh some of the rather minor  issues on Maybe Tomorrow which make it worth your time to check it out.

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