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Been listening to Dave Barnes' "Chasing Mississippi" all day. I think the grin on my face is starting to scare my dogs. There's just somethin' about these sly folk-blues.
"Chasing Mississippi" is a collection of eleven distinctive and joyous love songs that overflow with wily humor, funky beats, impressive playing, and astonishingly, a charming vulnerability. I'm talking about the part of Dave Barnes' brain that lets him gush in "Butterflies" about "practicing both of our names just to giggle." It works too, because his music is so spectacularly crafted and well delivered that you end up finding his disarming candor admirable. He's got a spiritual freedom that I find contagious. He's also put together a sizzling band and invited guests like Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Matt Wertz to keep the party going strong. Tongue-in-cheek opener "A Lot Like Me" is funky rock, Sheryl Crow-attitude meets Stevie Wonder-soul. Keyboardist Ben Shive shines throughout, almost stealing the show on "Everybody But You" and the exuberant "All That Noise." Barnes' vocals are straight up fun, expressing warmth on the bouncy "Butterflies," crooning through the slow burn that is "More Than a Man," and dripping with empathy on the interesting R&B-infused "Stay Away." A lively bluegrass feel flavors "Greyhound" while Byron House tears it up on the upright bass. Barnes takes a more serious tone on closer "I Have and Always Will," a lovely acoustic ballad that may be one of the best wedding songs I've ever heard, Matt Slocum's strings and Amy Grant's quiet backup only sweetening an already richly honeyed pot. I don't care how my pets look at me, I'm not ashamed to admit it: Dave Barnes' funky folk-blues do something to me, and it's all good. You gotta get you some of this "Chasing Mississippi." Right now.
The copyright of the article Dave Barnes: Chasing Mississippi in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Dave Barnes: Chasing Mississippi in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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