Sadler Vaden
Dad Rock
*** out of *****
The newest album from Sadler Vaden is titled Dad Rock and from that alone, you pretty much know what to expect; mid tempo guitar/bass/drums/keys that would sound just fine blasting out of a Camaro.
"Dove" (which Vaden wrote with Joel Hamilton) seems custom made to do just that as the track soars with layers of vocals, tempo changes, deep bass and scratching guitars; it almost feels like you should get Marlboro Miles just for listening to this jam.
Vaden recorded the album solo (key, guitars, vocals) in Nashville, but had help on drums from Fred Eltringham and Julian Dorio and bass from Timothy Deaux and Dominic Davis with others pitching in along the way. Having played for years as part of the 400 Unit behind Jason Isbell, here Vaden focuses on his solo talents.
The album opens with chatter between father and son, adding another dimension to the title as this is the first album Vaden has released since becoming a father. The acoustic guitar begins an instrumental track that begins and ends in breezy fashion but gets pumped up in the middle while album closer "Two Balloons" is a big mid tempo rocker with a great guitar solo that sings about how nothing lasts forever.
Vaden has touches of Tom Petty throughout the album, most prominently on the acoustic/piano led "The New You", while he covers The Whigs on a, chunky riffed, marching version of "Staying Alive". The easy swaggering of "Holes" works well as does the big arena rock sound of "The Rescuer" which pumps up the horns and piano while "I'll Always Come Back" pushes a smoother, smokey 70's AOR vibe with nice distortion on Vaden's solo.
A short but sweet record, Dad Rock takes classic tropes of modern rock and just strums, plucks and bangs along in successful fashion from Sadler Vaden.
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