These days there are experiences and concerns that are shared by most of us, and which many musicians are addressing in their songs, possibly as a way to help them make some sense of it all themselves. It is also a way to reach out to their audiences, to help them deal with these troubles and their accompanying emotions, to remind them that others are feeling the way they do. The pandemic is the obvious big one, and the accompanying fear and loneliness, and now frustration and anger with those who refuse to get the vaccine. There are also the natural disasters resulting from man-made climate change, including fires that are destroying entire communities. Singer and songwriter Steven Graves addresses these troubles on his new release, All Alone. And yet, this album is far from being depressing or preachy. In fact, Steven Graves takes a look at the world and somehow finds cause for hope and optimism. Certainly we could all use a strong dose of that right now. A lot of us took stock during the pandemic and came to the conclusion that family and friends should be the priority. In a word, love. And this album contains a fair share of love songs too. The album features all original material written by Steven Graves. Joining him on this release are Travis Cruse on guitar, Doug Pettibone on guitar and pedal steel, Bill Walker on guitar, Russell Kreitman on keys, Will McDougal on keys, Robert Melendez on bass and backing vocals, Bryant Mills on drums, and Andrew Guterman on drums. There are also some guests on various tracks.
The album opens with “Lonely Night,” which has an easygoing, friendly rhythm. At the beginning of this track Steven Graves sings, “It’s been so long since I’ve seen the sunshine/I can’t seem to lose these clouds that are gathering in my mind/Even though I try so hard to see the good in every day/This cold, cruel world all around me, well, it’s making it hard to want to stay.” It isn’t until after those lines that we learn this song is about a relationship, and the need for love. Those first lines could also easily be related to these times, to the pandemic. But when it comes down to it, what we all need is to love and be loved, and that is what this song is about. “I need someone to love me, tell me everything’s gonna be all right/I need someone to help me make it through this lonely night.” And if you’re in need of someone to get you through the lonely nights, this music offers itself as a companion. The next song, “Love Conquers Fear,” opens with the lines, “Planet Earth is dying/People everywhere denying,” addressing the climate change problem and those who refuse to face its reality. “Change is the hardest thing we ever have to face,” he sings, and we can’t help but agree, for that is true even of those of us who are well aware of the troubles. And then when this song kicks in, it becomes a positive, optimistic song, rather than a song of doom, and I am thankful for that. “Love can never be denied/In these troubled times of misery and despair/Always remember love conquers fear.” I really like those backing vocals, which have a gospel style and vibe, stressing the spiritual side of the issue. Those backing vocals are provided by Veronica McWoodson, Ariel Thiermann and Tammi Brown.
Then in “Fire,” Steven Graves addresses the wildfires that have become more numerous, larger, and more dangerous in the last several years due to climate change. One thing that is interesting is that Steven begins this song with a line about emotions, and it isn’t until the second line that he speaks of an actual fire. “There’s a fire raging in my heart/There’s a fire raging outside/Hold onto what you know/Sanity is hard to find/Things are tough all over/Something has got to change/It might get worse before it’s better/Man, it’s getting kind of strange.” Isn’t that the truth? Though he deals with this subject in a straightforward, honest way, there is still an underlying optimism, heard in the repeated line “Fire, burn the darkness away.” And in that line what I hear is that these fires will work to bring the problem to even those who deny the reality of climate change, that the knowledge will finally come to them, will blaze before their eyes, and then we can do something to solve these problems. It is also a hopeful line, seeming to address the fire itself, like begging it to burn the darkness away, to accomplish something good. Optimism is also heard in the line “Sun will shine and the smoke will finally clear.” And he revisits the theme of the previous song in the next line, “Love that you have inside will rise to meet the fear.” “Fire” is followed by “Angel Came From Heaven,” a tune with a good, strong groove. “Everything happens for a reason/And even when you can’t see it, you gotta keep on believing,” he sings near the beginning of this one. That everything happens for a reason is something I have never personally believed, but that doesn’t keep me from enjoying this song. We could all use an angel these days, right? “Life sometimes is a leap of faith/You might not make it if you play it safe.”
“Rita” has something of a different sound and vibe, in part because of the presence of Art Alm on accordion, and also because of the horn section. Armen Boyd is on saxophone, Mike Rinta is on trombone, and Jeff Lewis is on trumpet. This one has a light, cheerful, uplifting sound, and in it Steven is asking for something so simple, so straightforward: “Rita, won’t you pick up your phone?” And really it is in that very line that the charm of this song lies. Then “You’re The One” is about needing love and about that special person who provides it. “You are the one I look to when I’m down/You’re the one I need when I’ve lost my ground/You always love me for who I am/When I’m with you, I am a better man.” Perhaps if everyone had such a person, a lot of the world’s troubles would disappear. Because better men do not shoot people. Better men do not try to violently overturn an election. “So Far Away” is a sweet song about how even an extreme distance doesn’t destroy love. Not even death can conquer love in this song.
The horn section returns for “All Alone,” the album’s title track, and I especially love that saxophone lead halfway through. This song has a cheerful, positive vibe, even as he sings “Maybe I’m meant to wander this world alone,” a line that is inherently sad. That’s followed by “Always Here,” which also features the horns. This is another positive track about the power of love, reminding us “Love is always here.” It features a soulful vocal performance. And in this one he again mentions the state of the world: “In these dark times, I found something inside/Can’t put my finger on it, but I know it’s alive.” It is difficult to avoid mentioning or thinking of the darkness of the times we’re immersed in, isn’t it? There is a great use of the backing vocalists on this track. They even take a section themselves, a wonderful and powerful moment. There is also a really good guitar lead in the second half. Then “I Can Be Free” has a strong groove. I’m especially digging that bass. This track also features a really cool vocal performance. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “I build these prison walls with my mind/Everything I see just falls in line/I’m the judge and the jury, and the victim too/You better keep on hiding before they find out the truth.” There is also some really good work on guitar, and even a brief drum solo near the end. This is one of my favorite tracks.
In “Rise Together,” Steven Graves sings about the people who are hurting and lost. “So much fear is driving them away/There’s nothing I can do or I can say/In these times you can feel so alone/Like the world around you has turned to stone.” This is a gentle song, a song that reaches out to those who might be alone. “Will it be love, or anger or hate/Don’t give up on all the things that you love/Find the strength inside you so you can rise above.” We do need these reminders. Who among us doesn’t succumb to hatred from time to time? It’s particularly difficult these days, especially if you are paying attention to the news. That’s followed by “Sitting Bull.” Sure, everyone by now is aware of the dark history of this country with regards to its native population. But these troubles are not just part of history, but are ongoing, with Native Americans facing constant harassment from the police in South Dakota, as we read about in the news recently. This track features a passionate vocal performance, and is a hopeful song, that we might learn from the collective mistakes of the past (and present). The album then concludes with “Good People,” a cheerful, bright number that urges us toward love. “No matter what it is they say/Loving each other is our destiny.” This song reminds us that there are good people all around the world. There might even be a few in Florida. This track features the horn section, with Steve Stanley on trumpet this time. Before the end, this song transports us to a better world, telling us “Doom and gloom have gone away.” And that jam feels like a celebration. You can imagine folks mingling, shaking hands, smiling at each other, that in fact that better world is our reality, that it does exist. Now let’s make it happen.
CD Track List
- Lonely Night
- Love Conquers Fear
- Fire
- Angel Came From Heaven
- Rita
- You’re The One
- So Far Away
- All Alone
- Always Here
- I Can Be Free
- Rise Together
- Sitting Bull
- Good People
All Alone was released on June 1, 2021.
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