Search - Devon Sproule :: Upstate Songs

This should be heard

Gregory P. Carrier | Iowa City, IA USA | 08/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just bought this recently; I had heard Devon's husband Paul Curreri live a couple years ago, and was impressed enough to pick up his album "Songs for Devon Sproule." I eventually discovered that Devon Sproule was a singer/songwriter, too, through Jeffrey Foucault's website (Jeffrey's a favorite of mine). I finally got around to reading some glowing reviews of this album (who doesn't have glowing reviews of their album posted somewhere online?), and may have written it off, except that I saw that Rolling Stone listed this as one of the best albums of 2003. I figured it was worth a chance. What a surprise. It's one of those rare albums that wears lots of influences on its sleeve but still manages to sound unique and fresh and original. It has a very pure and innocent quality to it. The best comparison that comes to mind is Gillian Welch, but it's sweeter and prettier. Every song just works on it's own, and after a few cuts, the whole album takes on a glow -- I started to feel grateful to be hearing music that sounded so perfectly conceived and performed. It's not a great masterpiece (at least not yet), but there's a minor miracle in these songs that should be heard."