Ever since I reviewed the early single “All This Time” from this album I had been (patiently?) waiting for my pre-ordered copy to arrive. It finally did show up last week and I have been happily listening to it since then.
One of the best things about Sidereal Days (Day 1) is that it sounds awesome. Every selection just breathes like it is alive and takes you on a sonic journey to the setting of each story Scorzari is telling. Making a record that has such great quality and depth of sound across all instruments and vocals takes a lot of patient planning, careful execution and talented production work – much appreciation to the group of people that brought this album together.
There are ten tracks including three extended play selections (“And Carries Me Away” at 8:10, “Endgame” 7:31 and “Grace” 7:14) that are quite notable for the fact that they do not feel strung out at all. Instead, they incorporate diverse instrumentation, engaging composition and Scorzari’s simple yet so very real-to-life lyrics to create these interesting and evocative short stories. I have hit repeat on the CD player multiple times after each of these comes to an end just to go through that experience again.
The other songs on this album are more traditional in length and there is one (“From Your Heart”) which I think may be the shortest Bill Scorzari tune of all time at 2:21 in length. It is a powerful 2+ minutes though with a simple guitar melody supported by haunting strings and pedal steel, wistful mandolin, a faint piano and a few magical dobro moments. A couple other favorites of mine are “All This Time” (my prior review here) and “Did We Tie.”
“Tie” is a slow-paced song with a few notable elements; an organ that adds some subtle but poignant texture, percussion (including some muted cymbal crashes) that peeks out at just the right moments and a deliberate pacing that almost seems like a slow march. Also, the mix on this track is wonderfully subtle and intricate – get those good headphones on if you have them, sit back and just let this one come alive for you. I also have to use this track as an example of why I think Scorzari’s lyrics are so unique and powerful. One line of this song goes like this: “Who’s the bigger fool between you and I.” That would be enough for many songwriters but then there is a little stop after which he adds, “or did we tie?” It is a simple thing really but it is those kinds of extra little add-ons that caught my attention early in my experience with his songs and I think it is pretty cool. There are plenty of other examples of this on the record and on his others but “Endgame” here is a great one for a full introduction to his lyrical style.
A set of great musicians play on this album other than Scorzari including: Brad Talley, Neilson Hubbard, Michael Rinne, Chelsea McGough, Danny Mitchell, Megan McCormick, Cindy Richardson Walker, Joshua Britt, Marie Lewey, Juan Solorzano and Eamon McLoughlin.
You can check out more of the music and information here:
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And please think about purchasing this album after you listen – I think it is a worthy addition to every collection.
Let me know you think!
jack mesenbourg 