Mike's Musings

I first heard zach Catalyst Conference in LA CA and was entranced by his melodic bluesy sound.  I was also very entertained by his easy going and down to earth personality.  Also, I love the album artwork, it's simple but leaves one wondering at the same time.

Story Time opens with Names That Fell, a simply song that builds and builds into a frenzied finish.  It showcases Zach at his best, telling a story with music that has layers and meaning while maintaining a frantic pace.  That song fades in Fears, one of my all-time favorite songs that has undergone (by my iTunes count) at least 6 transformations.  It is a song about a conversation about leaving home, a theme that resonates with almost everyone.  The funky vibe laid down by Williams’ backing band enhances the song to the point where it fills a room.

And so it goes, with Zach leading the charge with lyrics and vocals that impress the listener that this is something that actually matters to him, something that he has lived and experienced.  Zach’s backing band is a group of classically trained jazz musicians that provide just the right amount of structure and tightness to his songs, without unduly harnessing the energy there. Songs like James and Hospital Dream were born out of tragedy but maintain a redeeming quality about them.  Mountain Water and Take Care provide the ebb and flow that makes this album so good for work and play, relaxing and going, for any occasion really.

I’ve struggled to think of artists that Zach is similar to, but he is definitely in the singer/songwriter vein, akin to Joe Purdy, M.Ward, Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, and with a little Damien Rice mixed in.  But Zach is also his own man, writing from his own life and experience and inviting the listener in to the highs and lows that are universally experienced.

So if you are looking for some new music, check out Zach and his merry band.  I assure that you will not be disappointed.  Check out his website,myspace, and then download the album on iTunes.