ARTIST: Dick Prall
TITLE: Weightless
LABEL: Authentic Records
GENRE: Rock
TIME: 38:14 min
SIZE: 49,4 MB
RIP DATE: Oct-24-2007
RELEASE DATE: Sep-18-2007
WEBSITE: n/a
Track List:
01. Halfway To Hollywood 04:09
02. If It Bends (Ft. Glen Phillips) 04:18
03. Long Play 04:00
04. The Cornflakes Song (Ft. Glen Phillips) 04:22
05. I Took A Life 02:37
06. Boulevard 04:13
07. Side By Side 05:22
08. Honore 02:27
09. B & W 03:10
10. Devils 03:36
Release Notes:
Hailing from Chicago by way of a small town city in
Iowa, Dick Prall may be best known in Midwestern
America, though the singer/songwriter's reach
continues to grow with this fourth studio release.
Thus far the tunesmith's touring resume includes
iconic indie rocker/producer Jon Brion, Soul
Coughing's Mike Doughty, hit makers The Verve Pipe
and alternative country slinger Bobby Bare Jr. (to
name a few), along with club headlining slots. Now
signed with his home state's Authentic Records,
Prall hit the studio with producer Joshua Shapera
(Veruca Salt, Verbow) to turn in a comforting
acoustic record influenced by The Beatles' latter
era and modern day Ryan Adams.
Add in a few flourishes of Wilco, touches of his
previous concert partners, plus Prall's own
delightfully gruff vocals, and Weightless winds up
floating on an inviting bed of organic invention.
"Halfway to Hollywood" is a chunky, piano-tipped
tune with soulful croons and a hooky chorus, which
serves as a solid bookend to the sparse strums and
soft spoken percussion of "The Cornflakes Song."
Anyone who listens closely to that tune and the
shimmering glow of "If It Bends" might also notice
the familiar harmonies of longtime collaborator Glen
Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket fame), which fit
hand in glove with Prall's leads.
"B&W" is amongst the disc most somber selections,
resonating with sublime beauty and gracefulness
courtesy of calming violin accompaniments. That
chilled out mood also accompanies the haunting "I
Took a Life" and the distorted vocal lined "Devils,"
though there are still plenty of other upbeat
moments. One of the brisker standouts is "Side By
Side," known for its galloping guitars, clap worthy
shuffle and continuation of Prall's consistently
introspective songwriting. When combined, all the
elements are enough to make this troubadour's latest
offering stand out amongst an already rich catalogue
and make his independent stock continue to rise with
regularity.