Todd Hearon returns with a handful of 90s alt and indie rock influences on the latest acoustic and folksy album, Impossible Man. Backed by an impressive array of musicians, the album has producer Don Dixon on bass and background vocals, with others handling piano, Hammond organ, accordion, drums, electric guitar, and so much more.
The opening track, “Deadman’s Cove,” creates a rich, evocative landscape of guitars and atmospheric organs as the steady, rumbling drums engulf us in an inviting aura. Hearon sings about loss, spiritual uncertainty, and reckoning with one’s place in the world. The lyrics stand out for their poetic imagery, such as “The Devil playing poker with the Holy Ghost.”
As one of Impossible Man’s singles, “Looking Glass” has an upbeat, catchy rhythm with splashes of drums and chiming guitars that contrasts with the song’s cautionary lyrics about loving someone too absorbed in their reflection. Guillotine, another standout single, takes a darker, more enigmatic approach. With a thumping beat and mystical undertones, the song explores dissolved relationships, likening the end of love to the aftermath of a guillotine’s blade.
“Too Deep to Feel the Bottom” carries a tight groove with the drums, while the relaxing organ melodies immerse us in calmness. Whereas, Hearon’s lower vocal tones add a sense of resignation as he sings of a relationship that has gone too far to turn back.
The title track, “Impossible Man,” closes the album on a lighter, more whimsical note with shimmering instrumentals. With a lively melody and witty lyrics, Hearon portrays a flawed yet endearing character who wants to be someone’s dream man and live their “implausible plan.”
Listen to Impossible Man by Todd Hearon to find out how well-rounded albums are made.
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Photo credits: Greg Brown
Review by: Naomi Joan