Justin Roeland
‘Doomed to
Bloom’
Self-released
With the release of
his third full-length album “Doomed to Bloom”- out on January 18 – Ithaca
multi-instrumentalist Justin Roeland has delivered a dazzling collection of
folk rock gems that also satisfy the trend in indie music toward psychedelic
pop.
“Doomed to Bloom” is
filled with slow-burning songs that are best to sink into with a superior
stereo system. And if you’re into vinyl, you’ll be especially rewarded by the
warm, layered arrangements of reverb-soaked electric guitars and vocal
harmonies. Playing all the instruments on the album, Roeland presents the
listener with a vivid, hallucinatory Americana that sounds like the perfect
soundtrack to a joy ride on a desolate desert highway in the black of night.
The album’s
shimmering timbres are nothing new, but the unpredictability of the phrases as
they churn through dense chord progressions gives the music a welcome
freshness. Roeland’s vocals are sung with an effortless cool that belies
melodic precision, and the sense of intention in his voice is uncommon and
rejuvenating. With a nasal, folk-pop twang that manages to sound both earnest
and detached, Roeland seems too channel both Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Ryan
Adams, at various times.
Roeland’s fully
formed, lush production and Matthew Succucciamorano’s mastering make standout
tracks like “Neither Side,” “Perfect Night,” and “Blood Drum” all the more
immersive. “Doomed to Bloom” is a transporting record that will undoubtedly be
on my list of best local albums in 2019.
This article appears in Jan 9-15, 2019.
