Mainly dark folk songs and Americana songs—that’s what you can expect on the latest record from singer-songwriter James Houlahan, a guitar-playing musician from Los Angeles, and one-time co-founder of the bands Dogs On Television and The Jody Grind, two groups with their roots in Boston, where Houlahan was born and grew up. Some of his earlier songs have also been featured in commercials, movies and television series.
Because of the somewhat gloomy lyrics, his songs can sound rather heavy and desolate, but they’re not all autobiographical, and oftentimes just sprout from his rich imagination with the aim of creating a certain atmosphere for the listener. Houlahan already has five albums in his discography, and we’d like to explain the latest, Ordinary Eye, a bit more for you here.
A total of 12 songs take you on a trip through the life of this singer-songwriter for 50 minutes. Most of the songs were written during his extensive promotional tour of America following the release of his previous 2018 album The Wheel Still in Spin. His observations of the world around him formed the basis of Ordinary Eye, but without wanting to pass judgment. The climate crisis, political divisions, the social climate of his home country and its citizens over the past two years—and how the common man is trying to cope with these troubled times—are all themes covered in this new record.
The album was recorded in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the first corona crisis in the United States. The musicians who worked in the studio on this recording were producer Fernando Perdomo who plays bass, keyboards and acoustic guitar, violinist Scarlet Rivera and drummer Danny Frankel, while Esther Clark provides the female backing vocals. Houlahan also plays acoustic and electric guitars to accompany his songs.
All these musicians provided a very specific and special cachet to the tracks from Ordinary Eye, starting with beautiful opening track “As It Is” (which you can listen to in the video at the link below) and which was selected as the first single from the album. The violin sounds of Scarlet Rivera color the folk songs “Tomorrow’s Had Enough Of Me,” “What Is Our Love”—with the striking phrase, “it’s more efficient to be without pain”—and the beautiful “Walking Through The Fire.” In addition, Houlahan’s electric guitar playing forms the basis of songs like “The Jailer,” “Writ In Water” and the very beautiful blues ballad “All These Blues.”
Our favorite songs on this album, however, are the catchy riff-floating “Tehachapi Dust,” on which Clark provides a soft but beautiful second voice, and the modest but atmospheric “You Are Not Alone,” with which he gives the average American a heart in these difficult times. Just take it from us—James Houlahan’s Ordinary Eye will be one of the best albums this year. Listen for yourself and be convinced.
Read more and watch the “As It Is” video here.