Listen Up: Stomping Grounds

While I listen to music almost constantly, and have a full 30gig Creative Zen Vision M to prove it (in lime green, thank you very much), I tend to get in ruts where I listen to the same thing over and over. Still, when someone says, “Hey check out this cool Singer Songwriter, I think you’ll like his work,” I’m usually happy to do so. I’ll listen to almost anything once, after all.

Joseph Clinebell’s first CD, Stomping Grounds, is quickly becoming one of the discs I listen to more than once. He calls his collection of mostly-guitar-and-vocals songs “road trip music,” and really that’s the best description I can think of as well. For one thing, while his music is technically on the pop side of rock, there’s a vagabond-esque quality to it stolen from folk and country, that adds depth and dimension to tunes that are essentially pretty simple, with wonderful lyrics “….as a hailstorm draws near…the imperfect falls around…”

His voice is warm, vaguely reminiscent of early Michael Stipes or John Cougar Mellencamp at his most mellow (that folksy appeal coming out, I think), and overall Stomping Grounds is extremely listenable. So far, my favorite song is “Last Dance,” but they’re all good. And yes, perfect for hopping in the car, dropping the top, and enjoying the last warm days of Fall.

You can read more about Clinebell at his website: http://clinebellmusic.com/singer-songwriter.html, and you can grab this CD from CDBaby.

  • By Becca, Sunday: 4 November 2007 @ 7:39 pm

    Hey, thanks for this recommendation - this is the kind of music I love, and it’s in short supply on the airwaves these days. I’ve already purchased it, downloaded it, and burned a CD for my car :)

    Check out this young friend of mine, who has a similar rock/acoustic sound, with a little more bluesy feel.

    http://www.myspace.com/mleland

  • By greg, Friday: 9 November 2007 @ 3:01 pm

    Thanks for sharing that artist I whatched his video on YOU-Tube , GREAT . Here is two great artists that we love up here in Canada in the cooler weather .Neil Young and Harvest Moon is not only a great fall song it is a great album .
    David Gray is to die for , if you haven’t heard of him check out The White Ladder album especially the song’s Babylon, This years love , Sail away and the awesome Shine from the album simon 151 but the live verson is the best . Also
    friday i’m in love and my favourite Lead me upstairs you will play this one over & over again . Just type in David Gray on You-Tube .
    Melissa I sent you 2 of the links . Everyone check thes great fall artist out & let me know what you think ? Oh if do like David check out his DVD Live At The Point .
    Greg.

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