CITY OF GOLD [AKA: THE NASHVILLE ALBUM]

PBS is the band-name of the song-writers and performance of Tom Rapp. With his distinctive approach to folk/song-writing with a slightly psychedelic feel he seems to draw my full attention any time. With their debut, One Nation Underground, and follow-up Balaklava PBS experimented with some psychedelic and slight progressive song-writing (when talking about the late sixties that is) and by now Tom Rapp returned to a more conventional song-based record.

Now, it's easy to say that's a pity. But on the other hand; performing intimate songs is perhaps what Tom Rapp is meant to do. His vocal capabilities seem to be a bit limited, but give him an acoustic guitar and some lyrics and he'll fill the room for you. The warm sound of the recording, the honesty of his performance and his strange voice are just likable. Furthermore, the acoustic arrangements are all very well done. Harpsichord, piano, guitar, organ, minimalistic rhythm and of course some string-sections here and there. All are very tasty. Elisabeth Rapp (a women he had married) does a great job on the vocal lines in the two songs she is present.

Conclusion. I fully agree with ClemofNazareth here; this is a 'simple' PBS album that is a bit too short for today's standard. Still it satisfies me quite a lot. I just love Tom Rapp's performance and the sound is so nice and dreamy. Three stars. Change is big you will never listen to this album, but you'll miss it if you own it and lost it.

* Edited *

Once again I edit an review of PBS. This record has been appearing on my turntable every day of the week for two weeks now and I'm still lurking to hear more of it. Songs like the western styled Once Upon a Time, the intense emotional Nancy, the loose but well composed The Man and the psychedelic/progressive tracks The Wedding and Did You Dream Of have become some of the most important songs in my record collection. Did You Dream of is perhaps one of my favorite songs ever. The melody is very haunting. Perhaps this record isn't very progressive, but it is a masterpiece in it's own fashion and it fully deserves the four star rating.

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