DOLOUR
New Old Friends (Made in Mexico)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Shane Tutmarc is one of those rare musicians who is so ridiculously talented yet so completely unknown that it seems like one executive from each record label should be required to do jail time to partially make up for the injustice. Dolour is Tutmarc and an ever changing cast of musician buddies of his who obviously get what he's trying to do, because the quality of performance from the first to the second to this third Dolour album is remarkably consistent. Tutmarc's songs require versatility from the performers, too, as he covers ground from jangly guitar power pop to layered, lush, dreamy pop that would make Brian Wilson smile. (The background vocals on "Behind The Melody" sound like Wilson and the Boys recorded them personally.) No problem with originality, though. Tutmarc has a vision and he puts it across beautifully all through New Old Friends. If you're a true pop fan, and I mean the kind that involves guitars and harmonies and a bass that has strings, not a sampler, Tutmarc is someone you need to become aware of. All three Dolour albums are more than worthy of your attention, but this is probably his best.

© 2004 - DJ Johnson