BRAD YODER
Used (Reverie Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Used is the third CD from Brad Yoder, a veteran of the Pittsburgh coffehouse/bookstore/campus circuit, and it's an unusually well-crafted collection of tunes. While he usually works as a solo, and there are some fine examples here of that approach, for most of the tracks here he's recruited some assistance, and his skill as an arranger is as impressive as his songwriting.

It's songwriting, though, that is the make or break issue for someone on Yoder's career path, and he's written a bunch of good ones. This disc is chock full of the kind of lyrical hooks that stick with you, prompting replays until the songs are memorized, and then more replays to sing along. Believe me, you want to know all the words to the title track, and to "1 Hit Wonder," and to "James Bond" and a bunch more of these.

The best way to learn 'em is to hear Brad Yoder sing them, a pleasant prospect anyway, and the best way to hear him, unless you frequent the Pittsburgh coffeehouse/bookstore/campus circuit, is to buy this album.

Track List:

Used * What You Don't Know * When She Shines * 2nd Thoughts * Stranger Intro * Stranger Selling Roses * Underground * Land Of The Free * Happy 4U * 1 Hit Intro * 1 Hit Wonder * James Bond * Little War * Daylight Savings Time * Rising

© 2003 - Shaun Dale