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Fitzpatrick, David: Parachutes in Hurricanes

If you're a longtime reader of this website, you know I'm a heartland-rock kind of guy. Which is why I'm a sucker for the debut solo album from the frontman of the Dave Fitzpatrick Band, a longtime staple of the Milwaukee music scene. This is solid, serious rock from Middle America � songs about the real world and our place in it as we get older.

Think Indiana's John Mellencamp, Michigan's Bob Seger and Ohio's Michael Stanley.

Fitzpatrick's deep, midnight-blue voice permeates Parachutes in Hurricanes, like a good friend who always knows what to say when nobody else does.

Recorded in Milwaukee at Daystorm Music by Gary Tanin � whose credits include everyone from prog heroes Daryl Stuermer and Roger Powell to quirky pianist Jack Spann and former BoDeans frontman Sam Llanas, Parachutes in Hurricanes proves that today's best music is made at the grassroots level, often by seasoned professionals who still care about every single note.

Opener "Lost on the Same Street" begins with an a cappella line and then builds into a hooky lament about not giving up on our dreams as we age, while the chorus of the hopeful, horns-filled "Half A Mile" sounds like old Gin Blossoms or BoDeans. "So Happy With Me" takes an easy blues turn that's as unexpected as it is rewarding, with nimble guitar picking and vintage organ notes, and "If I Could" soars with fun harmonies. "Money Isn't Everything" struts like Mellencamp's best tunes, and "All In Tonight," a ballad meant to be played under a starry summer sky, could be a lost track from the Michael Stanley Band's Heartland era; a female backing vocal would have made it damn near perfect.

Granted, this ain't prog. But who cares? Parachutes in Hurricanes is one of those albums to return to regularly, to remind us that music can transcend just about anything. Listening to it will make you feel better.


Track Listing:
1. Lost on the Same Street
2. Long Way Down
3. Half A Mile
4. How I Wish
5. All In Tonight
6. Your Ghost
7. Money Isn't Everything
8. So Happy With You
9. Bed of Roses
10. If I Could
11. Done to Me

Added: September 17th 2018
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score:
Related Link: David Fitzpatrick Band on ReverbNation
Hits: 1559
Language: english

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» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

Fitzpatrick, David: Parachutes in Hurricanes
Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2018-09-18 04:50:47
My Score:

David Fitzpatrick formed the Dave Fitzpatrick Band in the late ‘80s and over the years the band released four albums. Fitzpatrick’s latest album titled Parachutes in Hurricanes is what he considers his first major solo release. In the vein of John Mellencamp, Bob Seger and others, this is a very nice middle of the road pop/rock album. Fitzpatrick adds soulful lead vocals and guitar and has a solid cast of musicians behind him.

The band has a very pleasing , low key sound with touches of pop and country to go along with their soulful Americana. The disc begins with “Lost on the Same Street”, a lovely ballad with smart use of echo effects on the vocals and a heartfelt melody. There is a slight nod towards the balladry of Bob Seger in this one. “Long Way Down” is another easy going track with a country flavour and nice organ work. The infectious pop rock of “Half A Mile” is one of the catchiest tracks with fine sax, organ, piano and guitar. The country-ish “How I Wish” is more wistful and melancholic and again the organ is a big part of the band’s sound. Balladic pop rock returns with the subdued “All In Tonight” and the wistful “Bed Of Roses”. “Done To Me” is another softer ballad ending the album with gentle piano and orchestrations. Just so you know there are no shortage of softer tracks which may be good or bad depending on your tastes.

Parachutes in Hurricanes is a nice singer/songwriter album and if you like the artists mentioned above you might want to check it out.



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