Suffolk Sessions (UK Import)

Album Review

Returning to old haunts, especially following a lengthy absence, seems to guarantee a rush of memories and emotions and a sense of nostalgia. Such a return likewise serves as a gristmill for a singer/songwriter like Justin Tracy on Suffolk Sessions. Returning to his childhood home in Suffolk, England, after 20 years, he decided to put pen to paper to capture the experience. As one might expect from such an introspective project, Suffolk Sessions is a quiet recording, reminding one of a classic folk album from the '60s. With little more than a guitar, harmonica, and his voice, Tracy holds forth in a calm but soulful fashion. On "This Time," Tracy wraps his raspy vocal around a poetic lyric of independence and loneliness, while "Overgrown" bemoans the loss of innocence and a desire to overcome the stale, numbing quality of everyday life as one grows older. At least some (perhaps all) of these songs were recorded live, but save for several introductions and a smattering of clapping hands, Suffolk Sessions sounds more like a studio recording. Tracy enriches a number of cuts like "In My Life" by adding harmonica, reminding one a bit of Bob Dylan circa 1963. Suffolk Sessions is a fine, reflective recording, and will prove a good introduction to Justin Tracy. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi