Richard Turgeon is an artist from San Fransisco who recently released Rough Around the Edges. It’s his seventh record released since 2017's In Between the Spaces. The music to my ears is rock based with an emphasis on Americana on power pop.
The opener “Better with You” revolves around warm but fuzzy guitars, a straight 4/4 beat, a steady bass and vocals. It’s an explosive song and I thought the dynamics were well done. The vocals are the main attraction here and the songs follow a straightforward structure without any surprise but solid delivery overall. In terms of the lyrics this felt straightforward as well. It simply displays some gratitude towards someone. “I Never Loved You” contains palm muted guitar chords and a classic rock spirit that has been around since the ’70s. “Jessie’s Girl” from Rick Springfield has a similar aesthetic and kept on popping into my head when I heard this song. I did find it a little ironic that this anti-love song came directly after the opener. Two ends of the spectrum. I have to think Weezer was a direct influence on “Please Take Me Back.” This band was one of my favorite bands in the ’90s and this song in particular sounds like it could have been a B-side on the blue album. This song felt like straight power pop. It’s a catchy tune and contains some of the most memorable vocal melodies. “Fire Drill” felt like a highlight and also a nice mix of genres. The ’90s vibes were strong here but the main reason the song works for me is the solid songwriting and delivery. The guitar work was well done and intricate. There’s also a subtle breakdown which leads to an explosive chorus. “7 Stories” was a good one as well. This song felt soothing to me. The vocal melodies felt like they were delivered in a comfortable range. There’s also a fantastic sense of space with this one. I really enjoyed the way the guitar patterns melded with the drums and bass. “Goodbye Home” is a little more pensive and nostalgic. There’s a slight sense of melancholy here when he sings “Did I outgrow you over time.” It’s a heartfelt song and felt like a proper closer that might make you shed a tear.. I can’t say Turgeon is reinventing the wheel here. His influences felt apparent to me. That being said, the songs are good from the beginning to end. There’s some variation between the Americana classic rock, ’90s alternative, etc. but blended well enough to create a signature sound. I think fans of the aforementioned genres and artist will enjoy this EP. Recommended.
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