Music Review: Joseph Tonelli, Dust And Snow

By Melissa Bratcher

Boulder-based folk singer Joseph Tonelli makes intimate, introspective, heartfelt music. His new album, Dust And Snow, is seven tracks of reflective, hushed songs done in true DIY style: recorded in his living room, then sent to a friend in Italy for production and instrumentation.

Therein lies the problem. There are lovely, simple tracks on Dust And Snow that focus on Tonelli’s appealing, gruff voice and his wonderful turns of phrase, as well as his fine guitar work. Then there are the tracks that drown in a deluge of strings that overpower the delicacy and heart of the songs. These strings aren’t mixed down enough and they become a focus, rather than an enhancement. The production is uneven and could have used a bit more finesse.

That said, there’s much to like about Dust And Snow. The title track, with acoustic rhythm guitar and mournful electric that cries in the distance, is a thoughtful collection of moments making up a life, with rich details: “If I asked you to marry me / do you think your dogs would agree?” Tonelli’s voice is matter-of-fact, bare, and honest. The introspective and timeless “Sunken Ships” again pushes his voice to the forefront, accompanied by a noodling electric guitar line that is never intrusive. The desire to break from inertia and wanderlust drives “June 15th 2009” with an appropriately moving guitar line. It propels the song delightfully, alongside richly observed details. The song lives.

The bright acoustic to the folky “My Situation” is buoyant and it goes nicely with the warmth of Tonelli’s voice. It makes it hard to hear him competing with the superfluous strings. If you take the strings out, it’s a gorgeous track. “Wolf In Your Blood,” too, suffers from the inclusion of strings. It’s a fascinating track with nice, rich turns of phrase (“Wiry as a crow-dog” is evocative) and an earthiness, but the strings stomp all over the song all elegant-like, subverting the track’s feel. It would be nice to hear these songs live, sans strings. “Sometimes,” I was hopeful for, with a gently rambling guitar and Tonelli’s nicely husky voice explaining the narrator’s suffering that begins with subdued strings. Those strings, though, build to bury the guitar and vocals. They couldn’t have buried the vocals on the closer, “Beautiful,” which is mic’d in a way that makes the vocals startlingly loud.

Joseph Tonelli is a talented songwriter with a pleasing lyrical voice and fine guitar work. The frustrating thing about Dust And Snow is, there’s excellent songwriting and playing that is derailed by unworthy production.

Dust and Snow was released on June 1 and can be purchased on josephtonelli.com.