So one of the benefits of music blogging is musicians and labels and people in “the biz” tend to know each other and recommend back and forth to themselves AND you.  The good thing is often artists of the same ilk will fall into same circles, discuss with same folks and recommend each other.  Not unlike the blog world, if you have similar tastes, you would almost consider yourself friends because you are both bloggers – kind of “on the same side” mentality.  Before I start rambling to much, my point is that due to another post I did on Strand of Oaks, I find myself introduced to Garrett Pierce and so far this meeting is very much something I needed.

Garrett Pierce is singer songwriter, troubadour, artist…well he is everything you need to be to be found on the pages of this blog.  He has great songwriting, a cohesive album (“All Masks” due out on April 14th) and simply something you find yourself singing along to, or at least humming in my case.  Pierce is releasing his third album and second with Crossbill Records next week and I have been lucky enough to be listening for a bit now.

From his MySpace page:

Many of the songs on “All Masks” reminisce classical myths, while others are traveling tales from their author’s personal life. “I’m interested in ancient mythology, mainly because that style of storytelling has been waning in my lifetime, and some of the most powerful images and performances I’ve seen involve masks,” Garrett said. I think they’re an incredibly important metaphor at explaining our place in nature.”

While I can get lost in “Sad Bastard Music” and don’t mind when an artist can display this theme through an entire album, many have a hard time being bombarded by the uber mellow.  “All Masks” doesn’t fall victim to something like this, while you do have your aching ballads, you still have range through almost bluesy inspiration (see “Lioness & Lion”) while still having the down-tempo (see “Can I Stop Breathing?” – beauty) and even have a bit of Southern rock influences on a song like “All Through The Night”.  There is a bit of a whole package here, either that or he is still formulating if he wants to be an “at dusk troubadour” or a “late night crooner”.  For those in the know, they can be two different beasts.  Either way, Pierce has the chops and talent to do either.

I have included two tracks below along with the video for “And The Ghosts Boarded Trains” which is a current favourite.

You can also check out Garrett Pierce on MySpace and also find out his previous album “Like A Moth” on CD Baby or eMusic.  I have just purchased it on eMusic and hence, I feel like there just might be another post on this San Francisco favourite soon…

**EDIT – Update, if you purchase the new album directly from Crossbill Records on April 14th – you get a great label sampler FREE!

~Smansmith