Dean Mueller - Fireflies
Folk, Songwriter
Oregon, U.S.
Overall Impression: "Fireflies" is a charming new release from Oregon-based singer/songwriter Dean Mueller. This track features a wonderful folk-jazz sound that's provided by acoustic guitar, upright bass and piano, while driven by shuffling brushed drums and colored by whimsical clarinet. Mueller borrows a page from Tin Pan Alley for this tune by incorporating elements of folk, jazz and blues into a traditional pop music form, recalling the songwriting style that helped to birth the Great American Songbook. His friendly and affectionate vocal delivery is perfectly suited for this song, his warm and intimate tone being ideal for both the quaint acoustic setting as well as the wistfully nostalgic and hopelessly romantic themes. Jazz, folk, and traditional pop fans will all enjoy the loping rhythms and breezy melodies of Dean Mueller's "Firefles", now available as a single on all major music streaming services.
Strongest Point(s): Terrific production, excellent mix. Great tonal balance and clarity. Wonderful vintage sound and atmosphere. Fantastic instrumentation, outstanding interplay between the piano and clarinet throughout. The bass, guitar and drums are all locked in, playing well together. Really nice shuffle feel. Tremendous vocal performance; a warm and cozy tone and timbre, great jazz phrasing and flow. Brilliant lyrical content with a nice summer-y vibe and a heartbreaking underlying premise that is disguised by the song's sunny character and laidback demeanor. Overall, this is a fine bit of song craft and an incredible finished track that should resonate with a wide audience, thanks to its timeless sound and stirring themes. Amazing effort on this one!
Target Audience Appeal: Jazz, Folk, Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Folk-Jazz, Traditional Pop, Adult Alternative
Artist target suggestions: Leon Redbone, Dr. John, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Tim Buckley, David Bromberg, Dan Hicks, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Donavon Frankenreiter, Freedy Johnston, Loudon Wainwright III
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.