by Finley S.
Dallas-based record label Kirtland Records has done it again! Home to The Toadies, Eleven Hundred Springs and more, their newest release from Bob Schneider entitled “Lovely Creatures” has all the trappings any major label could hope for: fabulous production, amazing writing and songs full of texture.
A beautifully seasoned artist, Schneider takes you on an amazing musical journey in “Lovely Creatures.” You’ll visit coffee shops, smoky jazz dives, Latin cantinas, peanut covered floors of back-road honky-tonks and big band dance floors. And while that may sound like it’s all over the place, this collection of songs are all tied together with a seamlessness that somewhat defies logic—which is half the fun.
The opening track “Till Somebody Catches a Feeling” immediately grabs you as a minimalist singer-songwriter tune with a sunny disposition. This rolls right into the lead single “40 Dogs,” a perfect adult slanted pop track with nods to the Americana genre. One of my favorites, “Realness of Space,” starts to rev up the energy, proclaiming “I want you to love me!” and really gets you dancing. The journey doesn’t stop there, as you swing into the cantina with “Bombanaza” and “Tarantula.” Patty Griffin graces “Changing Your Mind” with angelic vocals, and “Bicycle vs. Car” wraps it all up as you try to recover from a great night, sipping coffee and reflecting on life.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this consummate musician perform live, you definitely owe it to yourself to do so. Schneider can be found here in Dallas anywhere from larger venues like The House of Blues to local haunts like the Granada.
