Music Review: Daniel Romano, Mosey

By Melissa Bratcher

It’s difficult to call Daniel Romano’s new album, Mosey, a follow-up to last year’s country-flavored If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ (review). It follows the prior album, but stylistically, it’s an exciting left-hand turn.

“Mosey” is the word that Daniel Romano uses to describe his music. He says it’s the face of endless expression, and that it’s whatever he needs it to be. On Mosey, Romano is kicking against all kinds of things: our disposable culture, the way people would like to feel good at all costs, a lack of intellectual and emotional honesty. He wrote these feelings into poems (which becomes evident upon reading the lyric sheet) and then turned these poems into a dazzling melange of 1960s psychedelic pop, Serge Gainsbourg-like yé-yé, with a hint of country (but ’60s country with strings and horns). It’s unexpected, and it’s often amazing.

The opener, “Valerie Leon,” with it’s bolero flourish, bossa nova beat, and urgent strings is a throwback delight. It would fit right in on a Tarantino soundtrack, with its quick-fire lyrics of a dalliance that “maybe shouldn’t oughta” (that is ultimately undone by a fickle lover). It’s delicious and dramatic. The vibe continues with “Toulouse,” a very Lee and Nancy sort of song, with Nancy being played by Rachel McAdams adding “woo-woo-woo’s” and whispering in French. It’s country croon meeting fuzzed-out, ’60s guitar over an ambling beat with wordplay all over the place. It’s a garagey delight.

“Mr. E Me” could be the theme song for a 1970s detective TV show, sensational with a swirl of horns and strings. It ends in an interlude (like many of the tracks on If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ did) that blends into the next track. These interludes are always arresting, bits of funk, shoo bops that fade into the ether, some ’70s chicka chicka guitar. They show the breadth of Romano’s talent and the variety of his capabilities.

The bare bones piano ballad “One Hundred Regrets Avenue” has fascinating, lonesome lyrics:

The lights out in the street they hang too high to even shine / as she scours for the pockets that she lost out on the line / and the only wish to ever wish that ever could come true / is to find a place to hide your face into / at One Hundred Regrets Avenue.

Too, the lyrics of “Hunger Is A Dream You Die In” are heavy, wrapped in Laurel Canyon guitars and a sunbaked, pretty melody.

Daniel Romano appropriately played all the instruments on the early ’60s-esque “I’m Alone Now” (as he did on many of the tracks on Mosey). It goes nicely with the jangly power pop of “Maybe Remember Me,” with delicious harmony and lyrics that belie its sunniness.

He’s a hard one to pin down, that Daniel Romano, but that makes me like him even more. Daniel Romano is making music strictly for himself, and it’s wonderful. Mosey was recorded in mono, and it sounds and feels different than anything that’s being made right now. It’s bold, it’s entertaining and it’s mosey.

Mosey was released on May 27 by New West Records.

Tour Dates:
June 9 – Berlin, DE @ Privatclub
June 10 – Flensburg, DE @ Volksbad
June 11 – Mulheim, DE @ Static Roots Festival
June 17 – Vitoria, ES @ Azkena Rock Festival
June 19 – St. Etienne, FR @ Thunderbird Lounge
June 26 – Hamburg, DE @ Sound Yard
June 27 – Randers, DK @ Memphis Mansion
June 28 – Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
June 29 – Mariehamn, SE @ Dinos
July 2 – Stockholm, SE @ Lassei Parken
July 3 – Orebro, SE @ Kulturhuskällaren
July 6 – Karlstad, SE @ Nojesfabriken
July 7 – Borlange, SE @ Peace and Love Festival
July 8 – Malmo, SE @ Pildammsteatern/Sommarscen
July 9 – Oslo, NO @ Vulcan Arena
July 10 – Kristiansand, NO @ Cafe Generlan