BRIAN F KELLY - "Long Way Down" (Song Review)
The third single from BRIAN F KELLY, titled "Long Way Down" is a subject of wonderment for several reasons. The first was that he performed the piano, bass, drums, and all of the vocals (an impressive feat within itself), with additional musicians hired to fill the remaining roles. I always have respect for multi-instrumentalists, especially when they do well.
The second cause for praise is that it's a lovely song that nails the first impression. Genuinely, I enjoyed my time with it.
From the moment that the cascading fingerpicked guitar parts enter, you enter this warm, cozy room, enhanced by the storytelling of the vocalist that follows. It's a welcoming performance with a soothing timbre, and hearing the story about his mother and their childhood is a truly intimate, endearing experience.
When the father enters the fray, you have a drum groove with additional lead parts on the six strings, slides, and pretty riffs that build into a meaningful amalgamation. It immediately seems as if it's a classic within the genre, with no off-notes distracting from the occasionally raw phrasings from the singer, working through the story of their attempts at avoiding their long way down.
The fiddle solo in the later third is fragrant and oddly wistful, embodying a grace held while dancing through the triads and scales within the surrounding chord progressions. The keys also enter around the endpoint, gently sparkling on the right hand without being too overzealous. There are so many intriguing ingredients, and I love that the level of instrumental diversity is niched so well.
Ultimately, it's an authentically told tale that means the world to Brian. It's a well-written song that showcases his fundamental understanding of music theory and composition while tying in their own family - from their parents to their wife and kids - in a way that lets you into their world. Themes of forgiveness, their purpose for existing, self-love, and acceptance shine through and are all the more palatable due to how gorgeous the overall tone of the track is.
The studio production is stellar, and the ending of "JUST LOVE YOURSELF" with varying phrasings is poetic. Brian's a singer who can handle his chest and head voices; their vocal technique is at the level it needs to be to keep a 4-minute track interesting and shine through these Country-Blues stylings.
In conclusion, it's a commercial-grade piece that I feel will find success due to its authenticity, instrumental performance, and messaging. It'll have an audience, and it'll deserve it.
SOCIAL LINKS:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3FQow6uEr2qWIO6BnU0k7f
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXqHWjnEHZg