Danny Schmidt

Man of Many Moons (Red House)

Following 2009’s loosely themed exposition on money, Instead the Forest Rose To Sing, Danny Schmidt’s sixth studio effort proves more personal and shaded. In the soft quiver of his lightly scuffed voice, Schmidt hearkens poignant undercurrents reminiscent of Richard Buckner’s Bloomed, but with a gentler heart and optimistic eye. Even in doubt, “Ragtime Ragtime Blues” and the addiction-pained “Little White Angels” achieve compassion without sacrificing realism, and Schmidt ably works Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain.” As inviting and enveloping as his hushed vocal tremble and deftly economic guitar work are, the former aided by Carrie Elkin and Raina Rose and the latter by Will Sexton, Man of Many Moons is also too content to lull in an easy ebb and flow when the album might have been better served by testing the songs’ gravity with more daring. For better and worse, Schmidt stays in a safe orbit of his ample strengths.

***

This article appears in February 11 • 2011.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.