- Barley Legal “All Your Stories” Cover
Just one week to go before the much anticipated debut album from Hermosa Beach, CA’s BARLEY LEGAL hits the shelves and I have the pleasure of having a copy in my grubby little hands. After nearly two years of development, Barley Legal took to the studios at TV Tray in Simi Valley and laid down an album that is chock full tunes that after your first run through you’ll be singing along in the car to.
- Barley Legal “All Your Stories” Back
Barley Legal founder and rhythm guitarist, Jason Carver, penned all of the songs for All Your Stories” brining musical life to Los Angeles’ “Southbay” (Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches). A laid back lifestyle as sung about by the Beach Boys but for the 2010s.
Kicking off the album is the track “California.” Fresh and new sound, “California” should be the anthem for Southern California tourism. It paints musical pictures with acoustic guitar (Jason Carver) and saxophone (Stephen Herring) mixed with lyrics that teleport you to a sandy beach and California’s endless Summer.
Track 2 is “Birds In Flight.” This is my pick for favorite track of the album. From the first line, “Ride this caravan with me, down the rabbit hole,” “Birds” is a fun song that is hot out of the gates and holds that pace throughout. Mixed with a sweet guitar lead from Nate LaPointe, lead singer, Brent Reger harmonizes exceptionally well with bass player, Jay Constable for a sweet tune.
- Barley Legal
“Sunshine” is up next and there no questioning why this track took an award at the Malibu Music Awards in September. Jay Constables melodic voice cradles you as the music, complete with a string quartet, will lift you on a musical breeze in this truly beautiful song…it’s orchestral.
“Vintage 1977” slows the pace down. Like a margarita in a beach hammock, “Vintage” will relax you Jimmy Buffett style as it’s slow melody and easy sax licks play. Don’t relax too much…”Brody’s Song” is up next.
“Brody’s Song” named after Reger’s dog, will take you back up to the rockin’ pace with screaming guitar licks, punchy sax and hard starts and stops. Warning, this song will stick in your head for a long time!
The next two songs, “10th Avenue” and “Willow Tree” take the tempo back down and deliver glorious harmonies and layered vocals focusing on the lyrical genius of Carver. “Willow Tree” has a great violin addition to subtle acoustic guitar that gives it a nice flavor.
Constable’s vocals return again for “New Years.” This mid-tempo track has a catchy beat and stirs your personal memories of New Years Eve’s gone by but the key is Constable’s vocals. I can listen to Jay Constable sing anytime. Something about his voice, once you hear it, you’re hooked. Like a good beer or wine, it’s unforgettable and you know it the moment you hear it.
“Sunday Afternoon” is BL’s first foray into a country beat. Indicative of those country rockers a la String Cheese Incident, “Sunday Afternoon” will get your toes a tappin’ and before long you’ll be on the dance floor if you weren’t already there.
Closing out the album is “Vagabond,” the exclamation point at the end of a fantastic album wrapping it up with nice neat bow and sending it off to their fans, The Legalites, with musical love.
From “California” to “Vagabonds” Barley Legal’s debut album tells me that we can expect lots more from this fun group from LA’s Southbay. “All Your Stories” will take it’s place permanently in your playlist.
Favorites: California, Birds in Flight, Brody’s Song, Sunday Afternoon. Sunshine stands alone as a orchestral epic…it deserves it’s own catagory…AWESOME!
Barley Legal will kick off their CD BL style at the Dive at Brixton in Redondo Beach, CA on November 13th. Tickets are $10 and include a copy of All Your Stories. www.brixtonsouthbay.com for tickets. You can purchase of copy of All Your Stories via the Barley Legal website, www.barleylegalband.com.
