Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Steve Hensby - Steve Hensby

6/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Steve Hensby

​Steve Hensby
self-released; 2017

​3.9 out of 5

By Rebecca Rothschild

Truly a jack of all trades, Steve Hensby’s eclectic, two-disk self-titled album Steve Hensby is jam packed with loads of genres and emotions, I’m not entirely sure where to begin. Hensby described this album by saying, “It’s a gypsy circus.” I’ll say this, it achieves the dizzying effect of the circus considering there are so many flavors to pick from. He touches on everything from traditional folk music, drinking songs, French pop, jazz, indie rock and even a hint of punk. I had a lot to listen to and a lot to talk about.

The first four tracks of disk didn't do much for me, in all honesty they sounded like something you could hear at your local renaissance fair or outdoor festival. There is a sense of humor to them but they just sound so hokey I really can’t think of an occasion where I would want to listen to them which comes down to personal taste.

However, track five, “Overtime” was a complete turnaround with a cool jazzy feel and piano playing that was just plain lovely. Same thing with “This Old Town” which had a French pop essence to it. I don’t know what these two tracks had to do with the first four but I was now intrigued. Another fun insert in disk one was “Advert” which is a hilarious, raunchy advertisement for a fish and chips joint. It’s great, but I don’t understand it’s placement in this album. To be honest I really want to hear the punk rock album that I feel would be attached to that advertisement. 


Disk two had a similar mixture of his gypsy circus and jazz stuff. The one thing that stood out was the cool acoustic cover of “If I Only Had a Brain.” It was eerie and had a melancholy quality to it that I could appreciate. As for the rest of this disk, once again I wasn't as smitten with the circus stuff. The jazzier stuff even got a bit sleepy for me. 

The audio craft was not entirely flattering, and that could be on purpose to play up the humor bits. However, on the jazz end it just fell short for me, I think if it sounded a bit more intimate instead of open and airy, I might have appreciated it more. Hensby’s vocals are interesting; he’s on the higher end of the scale. His voice works fine enough for the humorous hokey stuff. I don’t know that his voice is really suited to jazz. I would love to hear him in a punk or indie rock setting, I think he could really make an impression in either of those realms.

You can get a glimmer of indie rock with “Stagefright” and his voice really clicks with that track. He excels with blunt yet light, playful delivery. 

​
Overall Hensby clearly likes to play the field when it comes to genres which I can respect. I would recommend breaking it up. I felt like I had two completely different albums on my hands. I would be very interested to hear more work from him that was less for kicks and more for listening.
Become A Fan
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact