Melody's True is a momentous shift for
Stuart Valentine. While his band before this recording,
the Out Crowd, was a psychedelic chip off
the Brian Jonestown Massacre,
Melody's True is tranquil and sensitive. The Portland, Oregon singer/songwriter (who also spent time in
Richmond Fontaine) has applied great use of his prior experience, playing nearly all instruments himself on his first solo record. The result is a wonderful collection of breezy rock, spearheaded by
Valentine's inviting vocals. Lyrically, his words go perfectly with the arrangements, whether he's giving advice ("don't go chasing what is gone/stop thinking that it's all gone wrong") or telling a story ("he met a girl and they fell in love/they used to walk up in the hills and stare at the clouds above"). Given the simple content, it's a timeless record, especially with
the Velvet Underground-injected "Upside Down." The only complaint is that he didn't make a solo album sooner. ~ Kenyon Hopkin