Rob Drabkin
S/T
(Self released)

Rob Drabkin somewhat mirrors Jack Johnson. Not so much in a musical way, but in a singer/songwriter way that will shoot him from MySpace to MTV faster than he can cut his distinctive hair. People were obsessing about Jack Johnson in 1997 when he appeared on Napster and now, almost 10 years later, his name is as common as a hipster drinking a PBR and riding a Vespa.

Drabkin's self titled album has just the right sweet things that push emerging artists into the national scene. The native Coloradan has climbed the proverbial singer/songwriter ladder to the next level. And it's pretty damn impressive.

Drabkin houses a honeyed, powerful voice reminiscent of Damien Rice. With more than two decades of guitar expertise, he throws his all at this album, and it shows. His melodic finger-picking and good balance of tunes ranging from rhythm guitar to folksy ditties displays his near-perfect guitar skills.

The eight track disc pulls soul, serenity and folk into one refreshing song after another. The opening track, Sweet Things will steal ears for days. Drabkin's rattling yodels and unique voice range mixed with his acoustic offerings blend well.

The second track, Rise at Sea, is as pacifying as a sweet lullaby. Complimenting his talents is Leslie Dawe on cello, which provides for a fantastic accessory to his album (Dawe also appears on track eight).

Other tracks to keep your ear on are She Comes and Goes, Girl from Country Floors, and Little Steps. Drabkin shakes things up on Girl from Country Floors and Little Steps with folksier and funky beats.

He throws one popular cover in the mix - Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields' The Way You Look Tonight, which is an overall nice acoustic cover of the 1930s classic.

He ends his disc with Honey Dipped Ice Cream coupling piano solos with his unique voice for this somber melody.

Drabkin's lyrics are fresh and without cliché, which is a plus for another-singer-with-a-guitar guy these days. It's local artists like Drabkin who will be huge one day that make you kick yourself for not indulging in his frequent open-mic night visits. If Drabkin keeps this up, he will shoot out of the local scene faster than the Fray.

- Christy Fantz
- Christy Fantz