By Donald Bush • Dec 7th, 2010 • Category: long players
Where Scott Macdonald fits into the great Scottish music scene is a bit of a conundrum. Folk music is probably the first port of call for anyone wanting to figure him out, but even then, he’s somewhere between the new folk of Fence and old school types like Dick Gaughan.
On this album he works with old pal Martin Stephenson, who himself is neither a home-grown Scot, or even just a folk artist, given that the Geordie who came through the new wave boom himself touches on blues and bluegrass and pop music pure and simple.
So this album being titled Soul City is no great surprise, but neither does it offer much of a clue. Opener ‘Stay’ is almost misleading, a great piece of songwriting in the vein of Springsteen or even Justin Currie, but the tune that follows it, ‘Come Back Baby’ has parping trumpet a la Louis Armstrong along with a tune that’s as much rockabilly as New Orleans jazz. The title track is clever, with an understated chorus exactly where a big anthem might be expected, while the album’s subject matter is considered – Macdonald’s a gifted lyricist with a bit of a social conscience, demonstrated on ‘Greed Is Good’: “No time to love, no time to care”.
‘I Found You’ is in that Paolo Nutini or King Creosote vein and is catchy as anything coming from either of those two more familiar names.
There’s 13 tracks on this, Macdonald’s fourth album, and every one is an example of crafted, classic songwriting, no matter the genre.
where travellers go’ review
Scott MacDonald has written and co-produced a very endearing CD of songs with a definite feel-good factor. Maybe it’s the almost late Seventies ; maybe it’s the good beat and the clear flowing tunes, but there’s something of the driving country feel to these essentially Scottish songs
‘new heart’ review
It’s one man and his guitar and a charismatic voice that makes it a pleasure to listen to.
His harmonica is a true companion through almost every track on the album.
You could feel clear celtic references, and even a bit of the american folkrock/americana tradition.
The songs are being delivered straight from the heart, with warmth, intensity and true emotions.
A quiet record that makes a difference, very honest and enjoyable.
