A Young Man’s Country - Daniel Donato

Track List:

1. Justice

2. Always Been A Lover

3. Meet Me In Dallas

4. Fire On The Mountain 

5. Luck Of The Draw

6. Broke Down

7. Angel From Montgomery

8. Sweet Tasting Tennessee

9. Diamond In The Rough

10. Forgotten Days

11. Ain’t Living Long Like This

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I don’t recall

How I came across this guy, but I heard his version of Fire On The Mountain and decided I would listen to this album since I had a day trip to a mountain today to watch the solar eclipse, that was fun. I already heard Dark Side Of The Moon today so that eclipse pun already burst. This won’t be a very critical listen at all. I am tired.

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Justice

I think the first striking thing is Donato’s voice. The man sounds young. I enjoy the guitar solo

Always Been A Lover

Neat little synth thing in the opening of this song gives a spacey feel. The song is a real jam. 

Meet Me In Dallas

So, yeah this is psychedelic country. Okay I really like this. I realize that the reader sees that as one statement next to the other. The first statement was about 2 mins into the song and the 2nd statement was about 5 mins into the song. 

Fire On The Mountain 

I’d like to hear Scarlet Begonias played by Donato as an intro. 

Luck Of The Draw

4 on the floor beat sounds weird for a country song, gives this a different feel, it resolves into a more traditional feel. 

Broke Down

I feel like this is an attempt more at standard “country”. The way he says “chain” is hard to listen to, the drawl: “chay-ane”. The solo is kinda incredible. 

Angel From Montgomery

I was able to sing along on my first listen just looking at the lyrics. Not much musical mystery here. 

Sweet Tasting Tennessee

This one has a bit more playfulness. A song about finding your home. 

Diamond In The Rough

This is the first song that reminded me of Old Crow Medicine Show. I might look at their albums to see if I haven’t listened to one of them. When I saw the name of this song it reminded me of Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes by Paul Simon. That would be a neat cover and would probably sound awful. I really enjoy the solos on this album. 

Forgotten Days

Donato has some interesting delivery on this one, the lyrics sometimes start after where you would anticipate them starting, or at least they did for me. 

Ain’t Living Long Like This

Well this song starts like Take On Me by a-ha. This is the most like pop country I’ve heard on this album. I also have a hard time not hearing Take On Me. But following the lyrics this is more akin to a Johnny Cash era country song than the stuff I hear on pop country stations. It’s not a bad way to end the album. 

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I think I will finish the discography. 

I enjoyed that listen. I peeked at the next 2 albums and I see an almost 9 minute instrumental cover of Ghost Riders In The Sky, I will probably listen to those next. I am excited.