The album opens with “Bird Out On 9th,” which has a cool, bluesy vibe as it starts, and an intimate quality both to the guitar work and his vocal performance. “The bird out on 9th Avenue/I’ll bet he knows a thing or two/In the cool shade of a lazy dogwood tree.” This voice is of someone who clearly knows a thing or two himself. Then nearly a minute into the track, the feeling changes, in some contrast to the raw groove of the verses. This track features some nice work on electric guitar. This song was written by Jeff Plankenhorn, Gabriel Rhodes and Michael Fracasso. It’s followed by “Maybe It’s Not Too Late,” which, after a delicious introduction on guitar, starts hopping and delivers a positive message, which fits well with its wonderful groove. “Well, good morning, good people/I know you got troubles/You think you can’t outrun your fate/Don’t be so sure, take another look/Maybe it’s not too late.” Oh yes, this one is totally working for me – that guitar work, that rhythm, its vibe, those lyrics. And Jim Hoke provides a horn arrangement on it. What more could you ask for? “Now if you’re circling the drain or you’re idling the main/Those are temporary states/Lay one foot down in front of the other/No need to hesitate/If you want to get out of your own way.” Messages like this one speak more strongly to us as we get older, certainly, but there is also such a great vibe about this song that you’ll enjoy it even if you’re too young to appreciate certain lines. This is one of my personal favorites. It was written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Scrappy Jud Newcomb.
“Alone At Sea,” the album’s title track, has a sweeter vibe. Here he sings, “Can I hitch a ride and see my story begin/I really want to go out on the ocean/I really want to find a little island/I really want to fare my days alone/‘Cause I’m oh so tired.” The song does have a somewhat lonesome, contemplative feel to it, and that idea holds a certain appeal. He then asks, “But who will you leave behind you when you run?” This is another of the disc’s highlights. It was also released as a single. Gary Craig is on drums and percussion, and Jerry Roe provides some additional drum work. Then “Do A Little Dancing” has a cheerful groove that should have you on your feet, just as its title urges. This track also features a horn arrangement by the great Jim Hoke. And it contains some totally enjoyable drum work, as well as some fantastic stuff on guitar, particularly during that instrumental section in the second half. This track is a delight. It was written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Gabriel Rhodes.
There is another wonderful groove on “The Mess.” This is an interesting song. The character of this song lives in what is clearly a dump, but would rather be there than head out into the world. The fear is that the mess isn’t just external, but internal too, that he isn’t taking care of himself or his surroundings. Yet there is a certain appeal in lines like “And you know I don’t need company/I’d rather be alone/The lines have been down for years/Why bother with a phone.” Sometimes you just want to revel in your personal mess. I love the vibe of this song, and this track is another of my favorites. The passion of Jeff Plankenhorn’s vocal performance is excellent, and Janice Powers delivers some nice work on organ. “The Mess” was released as a single. It is an older song. A live version of it was included on the 2017 compilation Songswarm Vol. 1, and apparently Jeff also performed this song with The Resentments. Then “Bluer Skies” urges us to “Come fly with me in bluer skies.” That chorus does help to lift us, perhaps from the mess of the previous track. “Not every eddy tries to pull you under/Not every breath makes you lose control/You come to find it’s not a matter of fact at all.” “Bluer Skies” was written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Michael O’Connor.
“Flat Tire” has a fun vibe from its start. Here he sings about wanting “A little bit of dignity, a boss who ain’t a jerk/Someone to come home to/Someone to take out.” This song about a trucker has a great groove with a blues attitude. “Won’t someone help this poor boy on the side of the road/I’ve got a flat tire, a little further to go.” He might have a flat tire, but this track certainly moves. It was written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Scrappy Jud Newcomb. That’s followed by “You’ll Stay,” which features a more soulful delivery. “Do you remember when you were down and out/Who took you in and turned you around/I don’t want to know about the things that happen when I am away/I just want to hear you say you’ll stay.” This one was written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Michael O’Connor, and is another that has been around a while. I love these lines: “It sure suits me better when you’re down and out/I could spend forever in the shadow of a doubt.” This is another of my personal favorites, in part because of great lines like those, and also because of that delivery. Jim Hoke plays organ on this track.
The drums set “Juggling Sand” in motion, establishing a cool vibe. This track feels like some kind of loose, raw party, what with that rhythm and that nice stuff on piano throughout. In the middle there is an excellent, though short lead on piano that contains a little nod to “Rhapsody In Blue,” followed by a cool lead on guitar. “Hanging from the ceiling/Or down on the floor/Fighting these feelings/Or begging for more.” I also dig that loose jam at the very end. The album then concludes with “Keep Me On Your Mind,” a mellower number with a delicious and smooth vocal performance and a nice bass line. This one was written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Colin Linden. Janice Powers plays organ on this one. “I’ll come running back with my hat in my hand/Knowing you’re the only one who understands.”
CD Track List
- Bird Out On 9th
- Maybe It’s Not Too Late
- Alone At Sea
- Do A Little Dancing
- The Mess
- Bluer Skies
- Flat Tire
- You’ll Stay
- Juggling Sand
- Keep Me On Your Mind
Alone At Sea was released on September 29, 2023.
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