Album Details

• Artist: Various Artist Compilations
• Album: Reason To Believe: The Songs Of Tim Hardin
• Label: Full Time Hobby
• Year of Release: 2013
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: nlathy on 2013-02-14

Tim Hardin was part of the folk music boom of the 1960s. His songs were covered by other artists.

I can't say I've heard any of these songs before. This may qualify me as somewhat of a newbie to the folk movement. I had the impression for a while this was a genre, you would do well to escape as an artist. Bob Dylan reached new levels of artistic achievement (and commercial success), when he went electric.

I've owned a pair of Phil Ochs albums, but he wrote his own stuff. None of these songs were on the albums I had.

With this as an intro to Hardin's music, I find the songs on this compilation listenable at all times. It's not always exciting.

There are songs, which stand out. The Smoke Fairies do a solid rendition of "If I Were a Carpenter." Hannah Peel thrives on "Lenny's Tune."

The songs are never fast, but they stay in your mind as more than background music, when the vocals ooze out in front of the music. Peel sings a sad tale, which evokes sympathy. It also makes you want to keep on listening.

It's refreshing to listen to music, which makes you want to focus on the lyrics. It's easy for words to become submerged by hook-filled music not to mention power riffs. Many singers thrive on unintelligible lyrics.

Focusing on Gavin Clark's "Shiloh Town" reminds me of the Rolling Stones' version of "Love In Vain" on Let It Bleed. This track doesn't make me forget the Stones or any artist effective in slowing it down (i.e. Neil Young, Otis Redding, The Beatles, er Pink Floyd). It does hold my interest though.

Alena Diane comes up with a highlight via "How Can We Hang On To a Dream." Also, check out Snorri Helgason's "Misty Roses."

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