Why Isn’t This Guy Famous (Pt. III) – Gregory Alan Isakov

Another installment of “Why Isn’t This Guy Famous” – and seriously, why isn’t he?

Gregory Alan Isakov has been a favourite for years now, he has great albums.  When I say great albums, I mean he has multiple albums that are consistently great – not just the 3-4 good songs with some ‘throw aways” to fill it out.  All great albums.  So far 4 albums in total (don’t get me wrong, I only have 3 as one entitled “Songs From A Cold Room” has eluded me).   When I say 4 albums, there is only a mention on his press kit of his 2001 album “Songs From A Cold Room”, but his most recent albums (see below) are probably what he is known for.

From his Website:

In 1999 he sought out his solo acoustic roots and moved to Colorado where he now resides. He has been taking on the folk music scene with his 2003 release “Rust Colored Stones” LP. and his 2005 release “Songs For October”. Gregory Alan Isakov’s song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, and his live performance has been known to quiet and shake the biggest rooms….Gregory has toured solo and with his band “The Freight”, and has currently released a new album “That Sea, The Gambler” (2007)

So yes, there is a couple of years since his last album, and I am sure an unsigned artist might not have all the resources, so again…why isn’t this guy famous – I need more of this singer-songwriters sombre masterpieces.  He has currently just started out on a tour that will include multiple shows with Brandi Carlile in March and April before he heads over to the Netherlands for some performances.

Okay, listen to some tracks from his previous albums and tell me you don’t find yourself humming along, tapping a foot (or two) and quickly right clicking to “save as” to your desktop…

“Only Ghosts”

“Garden”

“Black & Blue”
“All There Is”
“The Stable Song”

As you now have heard, he incorporates his soft vocals alongside acoustic guitar, banjo, pedal steel for twang, snare drum for structure and great songwriting.  You can also click each album cover above to visit CD Baby and pick up any or all of the albums.

You can visit him on his Website and MySpace page – both have the upcoming tour dates and a bit more information on the man himself (but not as much as he deserves to be said about him…)

~Smansmith