Roman Reese

Gritty City

Armed with an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, Roman Reese goes orienteering through an impressive 16 tracks on his recent release, Gritty City . Law student by day, musician by night, and adoring husband all the time, Reese draws on his experience in the military to produce an album largely about a man in love and at war.

Perhaps a reflection of the multi-faceted nature of the subjects he explores, Reese demonstrates a range of musical styles. "Cupid's Crying" is a heartbreaking waltz, while "Devil These Days" approaches the pop-country recipe that's popular over in Nashville right now. Other must-hear songs on the record include the frenetic "Breath & Bone," the blues-rock of "Dug Our Way," and "Angel in Fatigues," a stirring Americana-esque narrative. And if you like Scott Miller 's "Drunk All Around This Town," you'll love Reese's "Liquor Chest." It's the next evolution in beerhall ballads guaran-damn-teed to get the whole boozy bar singing along.

Reese's voice, too, shows versatility, sliding soothingly through a lullaby, only to jump, almost jarringly, to an impassioned, gravelly tone. It's in these moments that his voice is almost too big for his guitar, and could easily hold the backing of a full band.

Where Reese really excels is in song writing; he exhibits a rare talent for composing melodies and riffs that linger like the smooth burn of good whiskey, or like young lovers at the end of a slow dance.

— Kevin Crowe, Lisa Slade, Leah E. Willis