Shakey Graves Changes His Tune With ‘Can’t Wake Up’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

[rating=6.00]

Shakey Graves (known by Alejandro Rose-Garcia to family and friends) seems to have changed his tune. Where once his blend of old-school folk, blues, rock Shakey Graves (known by Alejandro Rose-Garcia to family and friends) seems to have changed his tune. Where once his blend of old-school folk, blues, rock and campfire country songs singled himself out as a decidedly eccentric troubadour, he now seems content to offer up his own equally engaging blend of pure pop.

The reasons for the shift isn’t quite clear, but Graves may have become convinced that a clearer, more coherent sound would bring him a wider reach. That’s one reason why Can’t Wake Up sounds like a record clearly intended to land closer to the mainstream. Not that it feels reigned in or confined to any certain status, but it is accessible enough to allow for more instant appeal. Still loose and scattershot to a degree, its melodies are decidedly enhanced with plenty of pop flourish. Whether its the easy lope of “Tin Man,” the carefree ease of “Counting Sheep,” the percolating pulse given “Dining Alone,” or the unfettered exuberance filling “Cops and Robbers,” there’s an unassuming sense of celebration throughout. Granted, some of these songs find Shakey coloring outside the lines — “Mansion Door and “Big Bad Wolf” in particular — but the served-up psychedelia enhances his penchant for unpredictability. On the other hand, there’s nothing ambiguous about this lyric from the song “Excuses”

“I can’t wait for the phone to ring
Can’t wait for summer, can’t wait for spring,
Can’t wait for someone who can’t wait for me,
Can’t wait to fall in love…”

Those are sweet sentiments, and while other tracks aren’t quite as forthright, Graves generally keeps to an upbeat and effusive attitude regardless. There’s something quite endearing about this record, one that suggests that musical shifts aside, he’s a genuinely affable guy. “Seeing is believing,” he declares on “Foot Of Your Bed,” a tune spread with gossamer tones, and given the evidence herein, hearing is believing as well.
and campfire country songs singled himself out as a decidedly eccentric troubadour, he now seems content to offer up his own equally engaging blend of pure pop.

The reasons for the shift isn’t quite clear, but Graves may have become convinced that a clearer, more coherent sound would bring him a wider reach. That’s one reason why Can’t Wake Up sounds like a record clearly intended to land closer to the mainstream. Not that it feels reigned in or confined to any certain status, but it is accessible enough to allow for more instant appeal. Still loose and scattershot to a degree, its melodies are decidedly enhanced with plenty of pop flourish. Whether its the easy lope of “Tin Man,” the carefree ease of “Counting Sheep,” the percolating pulse given “Dining Alone,” or the unfettered exuberance filling “Cops and Robbers,” there’s an unassuming sense of celebration throughout. Granted, some of these songs find Shakey coloring outside the lines — “Mansion Door and “Big Bad Wolf” in particular — but the served-up psychedelia enhances his penchant for unpredictability. On the other hand, there’s nothing ambiguous about this lyric from the song “Excuses”

“I can’t wait for the phone to ring
Can’t wait for summer, can’t wait for spring,
Can’t wait for someone who can’t wait for me,
Can’t wait to fall in love…”

Those are sweet sentiments, and while other tracks aren’t quite as forthright, Graves generally keeps to an upbeat and effusive attitude regardless. There’s something quite endearing about this record, one that suggests that musical shifts aside, he’s a genuinely affable guy. “Seeing is believing,” he declares on “Foot Of Your Bed,” a tune spread with gossamer tones, and given the evidence herein, hearing is believing as well.