Album Details

• Artist: Tony Desimone
• EP:
As We Go 'round The Sun
• Label: Self-Released
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: charlesmartel on 2012-05-27

"The Rapture" is a harder edged song with an almost Springsteen-esque tinge to it, yet managing at the same time not to sound like the Boss. Perhaps people like Jason Mraz should sit up and take note of how it should be done. The addition of female vocals on the refrain adds another dimension and the mixing of metaphors about the rapture of love and the Rapture of some of the more weird Evangelical "Christians" adds a touch of spice. You do not know whether there is an intentionally "political" (definitely with a very small "p") edge or whether it is coincidental. Still, it is probably the best song on the EP and one which deserves repeated plays.

It is with some disappointment that the two following songs lack the same quality. "The Line on My Horizon" veers towards gospel with its clapping and female vocals, but the song lacks the essential quality of soul which would make it successful. The use of the ukulele (for the second time) on the next track, "U & I", really adds nothing to what is a rather uninspiring song with more clapping and vocals delivered at times with what sounds like an attempt at an indefinable accent. Although it develops into a bouncy, cheery little number, it never redeems itself from its earlier poor start.

Tony de Simone is, without doubt, a talented songwriter. The music on this EP is pleasant to listen to, occasionally rising to something more. The problem I fear is that de Simone is operating in a crowded space. The Americana-singer-songwriter playing field is full of aspiring hopefuls and, despite the occasional innovation and the general feel-good feel to the EP, I am not sure that there is sufficient to make de Simone stand out above the crowd. To be sure, this is more enjoyable than anything put out by, say Jason Mraz or those of his ilk, but that could be seen as damning with faint praise.

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