Bill Deasy
Good Day No Rain
Bound To Be
Thanks to the ageism of record companies and label execs who generally welcome 36-year-old singer-songwriters with the same level of enthusiasm as they would a bout of SARS, artists such as Bill Deasy have almost been threatened with extinction.
Yet, Deasy’s is a voice that deserves – and even demands – to be heard, and with an album as exquisite as Good Day, No Rain , ignorance of it is definitely not bliss.
Aware of the fickle nature of the music business, the former Gathering Field front man has decided to exercise full control of his labors by releasing this, his second solo album, on his own Bound To Be Records.
From the first bars of the sprightly and clever “I Want to Know,” it’s clear just how much this Pittsburgh native revels in his independence. The melodies draw you in immediately. The production is sparse yet rich, and Deasy’s vocals are as affecting as ever.
His voice has shades of Springsteen on the delicately beautiful “In My Head” and there’s a hint of U2 in the soaring “I’ll Rescue You,” which develops from barely a whisper into a song of epic proportions. Yet, Deasy’s sound is one all of his own and has such depth and power that the magnitude of songs like the majestic “Who We Are,” the intense “Prisoner” and the quite breathtaking “The Gift of Seeing Through” can’t be fully appreciated by a mere cursory listen.
Deasy’s lyrics are just as stirring as his music, and “Blue Sky Grey” showcases this talent brilliantly, capping a song that could yet cause the label execs to regret passing up this album.
In short, Good Day No Rain is a thoroughly engaging and accessible album of folk tinged pop-rock which proves that being an independent artist is certainly no barrier to making music of the highest quality.
Bill Deasy: http://www.billdeasy.com/
