JOHN WASHBURN
Stumbling Still Warm... (Orchard)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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I've long been a fan of singer-songwriters, and John Washburn tells a story like many I've heard before, but they sound new. To me, that's a hallmark of an exceptional singer-songwriter, and John's got the gift of words and song with a touch of Americana thrown in. Stumbling Sill Warm caught my attention with "Wait (A River Song)" and "It's Alright," two songs that bring me right back to the days when I followed Steve Goodman, John Prine and Bonnie Koloc as they sparked the Chicago folk renaissance of the 1970's. On weekends home from college, I followed this triumvirate of folkies and the stories in their songs club to club in Chicago's near North Side. Whether it was long-gone places like Holstein's, Goodman's own Somebody Else's Troubles, or the Earl of Old Town, I knew that something special was in the air when Steve, John, or Bonnie took the stage. John Washburn's work is a lot like that. Stumbling Still Warm features ten songs worthy of comparison to other folks who've traveled up these same troubadour roads, and names like Greg Brown, Bob Dylan, or Dave Alvin surfaced when I heard John play. We'll be hearing more about John Washburn, I'm sure. Not only for his production work on Melanie Gabriel's debut disc, but also as he continues to tour Stumbling Still Warm...

Track List:

It's Alright * Satellite * Fool For You * In The Rain * My Only Friend * Wait (A River Song) * She's A Lullaby * Sometimes Trouble * Sleep * Half My Life

© 2002 - Eric Steiner