Mike Goudreau – Acoustic Sessions | Album Review

Mike Goudreau – Acoustic Sessions

www.mikegoudreau.com

Zeb Media!

14 songs time – 44:21

Canadian Mike Goudreau is an unknown quantity to me although this is his 20th album. For the past 30 years he has kept up a productive career as a musician, producer and songwriter. Hundreds of his songs have been heard in American network TV and films such as Chicago PD, Shameless, Comedians In Cars Having Coffee(Jerry Seinfeld) and the TV Movie A Majestic Christmas on Hallmark. The music heard here is an amalgamation of Roots Music, blues, country, a touch of spiritually and all done up in the singer-songwriter mode. Much here is up tempo feel good positive music. The approach here is largely acoustic utilizing guitar, upright bass, Dobro slide, harmonica, accordion, cello and spare drums and percussion. Mike utilizes his warm voice along with acoustic guitar and banjo-guitar on songs he has written or co-written. He produced this well crafted album as well.

Pascal “Per” Veillette’s rascally harmonica along with the sprightly acoustic guitar highlight the breezy “I’m So Glad I Have You”. “Per”‘s mastery of the harmonica is similar to that of his fellow Canadian Carlos del Junco. The country-ish “Tell Mama I’m Ok” features Toby Wilson on Dobro slide guitar. Pascal’s boisterous harmonica pops up once again on “What Did I Say”. The closest thing to a straight blues song is “She Talks Too Much” utilizing Mike’s expressive voice, Pascal’s harp, drums and lively acoustic guitar.

Slide Dobro contributes to the sentimental vibe of the slow paced “Back To That Place”. “I’ve Gotten Used Of You” just skips along like sunny summer day. The angst of a troubled relationship is the subject of “The Blues Is Killing Me”. The similarly themed “The End Of Our Dance” is enhanced by melancholy cello and glockenspiel. The Gypsy jazz upbeat “I’m So Happy We Met” conjures up visions of Django Reinheart’s fleet fingered guitar styling’s.

A variation of the saying “It must jelly because jam don’t shake like that” is taken up on “Jello On A Roller Coaster”. The solemn “Hear My Prayer” is enhanced by the slow slide Dobro backing. The accordion of Didier Dumoutier lends a lilting quality to the warmth inducing “Everybody Breaks The Rules”. The possible sad state of the world wide economy is the subject of “Bread And Water”. “The whole system is beginning to totter”. The album closes out with the exuberant “Come Home Baby”, made more so by the inclusion of David Elias on sax and a bit of electric guitar.

Of late I’ve been seeing more roots infused singer-songwriters and Mike Goudreau is high on that list. Humanity is instilled in every song whether it bit joyous or heartfelt. Mike along with his crop of accompanying players are of the first caliber. The songs are so natural and flowing. I’ll let you go now so you can order up this wonderful serving of heart felt music.

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