Since launching his solo career with the release of 2002’s
Circle Gets the Square, alternative singer/songwriter
Kevin Devine has cultivated a following thanks to his introspective songwriting and heartfelt melodies. With
Between the Concrete & Clouds,
Devine stays true to those conventions but expands his horizons by inviting his Goddamn Band -- keyboardist
Brian Bonz, bassist/keyboardist
Chris Bracco, drummer/percussionist Mike Fadem, guitarist Russell Smith, and guitarist/mandolinist Mike Strandberg -- to the party, lending a renewed energy and flow to
Devine’s sound. The addition of the band also allows
Devine to explore a wider musical palette, channeling power pop swagger with "The First Hit" and using instrumentation to mirror the narrative of "11-17" -- one guitar strums as he opens the song with thoughts of love, slowly building to distortion as the full story of love gone wrong unfolds. In contrast to his previous efforts,
Between strays from
Devine’s sociopolitical-leaning lyrics, shifting the focus to more abstract concepts with more wordplay, well illustrated with the title track ("And every single time that you opened your mouth/Someone else’s lies came tumbling out/Parading as the truth in a cap and a gown/A graduated curse that you cast to the ground"). While the transition from acoustic to electric may take veteran listeners by surprise,
Between the Concrete & Clouds succeeds in walking the fine line of capturing the intimacy and charm of
Devine’s previous efforts while allowing him to continue developing as an artist. ~ Chrysta Cherrie