Stacey Roberts Family Music - Anna and Reggie Rapasaurus
Blues, Rock
California, U.S.
Overall Impression: Singer/songwriter Billy Proulx pays homage to his home state, with his release of "They're All Leaving California". Done in a vintage-inspired style that's reminiscent of 1960's-era sunshine pop, this track features a mostly acoustic arrangement with a clave rhythm pattern that's reinforced by gentle strings and light drums, along with subtle Indian string instruments that give the track an exotic and psychedelic flavor. Proulx's understated vocals give present a brief overview of the Golden State, describing localities and capturing the natural beauty of the coast, while expressing a strong desire to remain as many others are choosing to vacate. Folk-rock enthusiasts, particularly fans of the "Laurel Canyon " sound, will revel in the spirit and bask in the sentiment of Billy Proulx's "They're All Leaving California", available now as a single on all major streaming platforms.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production, decent mix. Wonderfully evocative intro, sets up the song nicely. Fantastic clave groove, adds a Latin flavor and a hypnotic pattern. Outstanding melodic hook, the strings were a brilliant choice there for support. Love the Indian drone and sitar at the reprise, really gives it an authentic vintage psych-pop feel. Terrific musical interplay in that closing section. Captivating vocal performance, nice easygoing delivery with good clarity and presence, great folk-style. The lyrics transport the listener, doing an amazing job of creating a "California state-of-mind", thanks to all of the colorful local and regional representation. Good repetition at the end, drives the point home. All in all, this is a tremendous bit of song craft and a fine finished track that's overflowing with "California-ness", presenting itself in a modern context. Awesome work, by everyone involved!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Sunshine Pop, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic/Garage, Baroque Pop
Artist target suggestions: Eagles, The Mamas & the Papas, Jackson Browne, JD Souther, Calexico, The Beach Boys, Donovan, Beck, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, The Association, M. Ward, Band of Horses, Iron & Wine, Crosby, Stills & Nash
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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.