Indie artist Chad Overman released “Sunday Man” on January 29, 2007, twelve tracks of poetic pop sure to soften the hardest heart. Not one measure goes to waste here; his self-penned songs are some of the most accessible I’ve heard recently, bravely exposing his own longings and struggles in this friendly pop. And it’s not easy-listening pop, but textured, thoughtful and diverse, well worth your attention.
Both the intense rhythms and vocals add an urgency to opener “Drop the Reins,” tipping you off immediately to a fresh sound. The bright, breezy “Follow the Sun” changes direction, and the lush strings of encourager “The Journey” is yet another shift, each movement as sound as the other. “Anticipation” moves from its airy opening into a thickly nuanced chorus; pay special attention to the track’s vibrant lyrics. Overman’s writing is a great mix of intelligence and guts, straight up, as evidenced by the rich imagery of standout track, “Winter.”
“Stephen” is a joyous electric tribute to the martyr who “dropped his soul, trading for his skin,” and “Ashes of Lee” a more personal acoustic nod, this time to sister and brother-in-law on their wedding day. I hear slight shades of Billy Joel in the rolling rock changes of “Runaway Train,” with its sizzling strings, evocative bridge, and again, oh, those effervescent lyrics! One more must-mention is the gutsy “Something,” combining a heavenly melody with earthy lyrics, delivered with power and passion. “Sunday Man” closes quietly with “Heavensent,” an acoustic ode to his guardian angel, to whom he gave a name, a story and a song. See what I mean? The heart of a poet. Visit Chad Overman at his myspace for further information.
