Denison Witmer - Denison Witmer
Label.........................: Asthmatic Kitty
Genre.........................: Indie
StoreDate.....................: Apr-30-2013
Source........................: CDDA
Grabber.......................: Exact Audio Copy (Secure Mode)
Encoding Scheme...............: Lame 3.98.4 V0 VBR Joint-Stereo
Size..........................: 63.56 MB
Total Playing Time............: 40:25
Release Notes:
On Asthmatic KittyÆs SoundCloud page for Denison WitmerÆs self-titled
tenth studio album, the label compares the Pennsylvania-nativeÆs music
to major league baseball pitcher R.A. DickeyÆs knuckleball: both are
unpredictable and nontraditional. The implication is that Denison Witmer
is the equivalent of a masterful Cy Young season.
This is, of course, a rather dramatic correlation. Take a spin through
Denison WitmerÆs 11 songs, and whether listening to an album stream or
consciously and individually clicking through the individual tracks,
distinguishing song-to-song shifts proves difficult, as Witmer chooses
an acoustic guitar as his primary partner and additional instruments
(hear: light percussion, occasional keys, and drowsy bass) are reduced
to mellowing sleep-aids. This is not an arrangement for fans of the
ornate.
On the other hand, though, WitmerÆs been in this game for more than 15
years, and he manages to not only stay creatively productive but also
true to his mission. Which is at least admirable even if it isnÆt wildly
varied. This is a guy who records his feelings almost every year and
issues press releases reporting that the music industry has taught him,
and this is an actual quote, ôto be patient, to trust in happy
accidents, and to admit every once in a while that he isnÆt totally in
control.ö
Despite this seemingly sunny disposition, Witmer questions himself on
this self-titled record.ôWhat if IÆm just not made out for this?ö he
asks himself repeatedly on ôMade Out for Thisö and similar
contemplations come toward the albumÆs end as his reluctant croon
ponders, ôIs my mind at east or am I jaded? / Has the brightest color in
me faded?ö. Even with his diary-like, self-conscious confessions, Witmer
knows who he is and remains much more kinetic than his semi-somber
tunes.
ôThis is a turning point for me,ö he said. ôEven though itÆs late in my
career, I can feel something moving.ö Limited palette aside, that
movement rings through.
Essential Tracks: ôMade Out for Thisö
Tracklisting
01. Born Without The Words 4:28
02. Keep Moving Brother, Keep Moving Sister 5:10
03. Constant Muse 3:50
04. Made Out For This 3:27
05. Let Go A Little 1:41
06. Asa 3:49
07. Take More Than You Need 4:58
08. Right Behind You 4:09
09. The Other Side 2:06
10. Take Yourself Seriously 6:47
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