Rochester singer-songwriter Brock Saltsman has always had an earnest voice, melodically dialed-in and expressive. But with only an acoustic guitar as instrumental support on the solo EP “I Am,” the quality of his singing takes center stage, without any of the indie rock accoutrement of his band Pluck to divert attention.
On “Offering,” the tone of his tenor — somewhat reminiscent of Americana songwriter Dave Rawlings’s straightforward sensibility, but without the country twang — cuts to the heart and pairs well with the threadbare vulnerability of the lyrics: This is where I grew up / There’s a hole in the rock / Let me show you the opening / If you stay past dark, there’s a strange warm light / And it feels like an offering.
For “Liar,” Saltsman duets with himself in a brilliant piece of succinct but provocative storytelling: When I had 20 dollars to my name, my baby told me that she’d love me just the same / So I went downtown and I gambled on the game / I walked back home with my head held low in shame / And low, so low, but I’m still inspired / And now where I go, they’ll call me ‘Liar.’
“Trying” is a stylistic throwback, recalling the ‘70s folk balladry of James Taylor before concluding with atmospheric background vocals that ground the song in the present day.
The EP, which Saltsman co-wrote with Jennifer Thomas, boasts an emotionally direct approach throughout the five tracks, a consistency which carries over to the music production as well. The fact that three different accomplished audio engineers — Aaron Lipp, Ben Morey and Alex Northrup — were involved in crafting the sound speaks to the clarity of Saltsman’s vision for the songs. Released on Feb. 5, “I Am” is a welcome entry into the indie folk catalog, with plenty of fresh-faced sincerity and evocative vocals in abundance.
Daniel J. Kushner is a contributor to CITY.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
