ROCKY VOTOLATO
Makers
(Barsuk)
·Dad rock (in the best possible way).
Since fronting the well-kept secret Waxwing, Rocky Votolato has retreated into the domesticated life as a proud father of two. With Makers, his move towards old-fashioned singer-songwriter territory is solidified with his finest collection of songs to date.
Composed of little more than his dreamy voice and guitar, the likes of "Uppers Aren’t Necessary," and "Goldfield" sound like lost pages from the Steve Earle songbook. Opener "White Daisy Passing" is the type of simple classic tunefulness that lesser songwriters would give their left arm to achieve, but in Votolato’s case it sounds effortless – equal parts Iron & Wine and Badly Drawn Boy.
Sure, Makers does drag on occasion (Votolato’s at his best at his most simplistic and direct), but the end impression is one of genuine potential. While Ryan Adams is still mourning the loss of his misguided 20s, Votolato’s making the most of his.
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