Search - Dillon O'Brian :: Scenes From My Last Confession

Singer-Songwriter O'Brian Strikes a Nerve

Sharon L. Thompson | Santa Monica, CA | 04/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dillon O'Brian, singer, songwriter, lyricist, composer and respected studio musician, launched his career with this release in 1994. It was not promoted at the time due to a rash of similar-sounding performers exploding on the scene at the same time. But the depth and breadth of this artist is not to be underestimated.

Opening with the spiritual Something Almost Sacred, he discovers the depth of a father's love for his son and how it profoundly affected him. The second track, Roots and Wings, is an anthem to his child, a story of giving up material things for the greater gifts of love.

My Father's Son is the tale of O'Brian's Irish parents' immigration to the U.S. from County Donegal in the North of Ireland and how a young boy wanted to grow to be everything his father was. It showcases O'Brian's beautiful tenor and features Dublin-born Ken O'Malley on mandolin.

O'Brian strikes a nerve with Catholic Boys, an unsanitized account of abuse at a Catholic boys school and its haunting, everlasting effect on the children.

The tracks feature O'Brian on vocals, piano and organ and a host of wonderful guest artists. At first glance, O'Brian may remind you of a Stephen Bishop or a Billy Joel, but the niche is clearly O'Brian's own. He speaks from experience whether it's a rock track or a slow slide like Down to Earth with its jewelbox imagery.

He can evoke a country feel, like in Angel of Mercy, with its "Halo 'round the moon...mist across a black lagoon," a lazy eve on the bayou, reminiscing about a love long lost.

Then comes a sad tale of a friendship unbound in Two Friends, followed by a thought-provoking challenge of self-analysis in The Analytical Mind---where he isn't afraid to open Pandora's box.

The Box, it turns out, is arguably O'Brian's best ballad, but it's not on this cd. Check out "From the Heart of Studio A, the Folkscene Collection," released in 1994, for O'Brian's live on-air performance. This cd also has exciting live performances by many great artists, such as Richard Thompson, Dave Alvin, Mary Black, Lowen and Navarro, and Iris DeMent, among others. It's available at Amazon!The Folkscene Collection: From The Heart Of Studio A

Dillon O'Brian is also well-known as a writer for other artists, such as Bonnie Raitt, who recorded O'Brian's beautiful Fearless Love, featured in the award-winning movie "Sideways." He has written for and recorded with Lowen and Navarro, Stephen Bruton, and Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, and many others.

He is co-author (with Jay Ferguson), of the theme for the hit TV series "The Office," authored the theme to "My Name is Earl," and was nominated for an Emmy in 2006 with songwriting partner Bob Thiele for the theme to Disney's "The Buzz on Maggie." He is currently (2007) working on a new cd......to be reviewed here first!

..........ST, Los Angeles, 6/30/07"