The John Butler Trio - Sunrise over Sea

I think I'm a sucker for nice black and white photos of acoustic string instrument. In fact, strike that: I know that I am. The other day, I was browsing through the pop/rock section of one of the record stores near work (the pop/rock section being where they keep Dr John, that gives you a good idea of the state of the industry...)

Anyway, I stumbled upon a listening post with the John Butler Trio's Sunrise Over Sea. On the front cover, John Butler in the studio sitting on a stool with his acoustic guitar and a rack of pedals, a banjo leaned against the wall next to him. On the back cover, a panoramic view of the studio, Butler on the left, the drummer in the center and the double-bassist on the right hand side.

I only vaguely remembered having heard a John Butler Trio track from one of the Bonnaroo CDs, and not being overly impressed. I listened to the first minute or so of the first track and I walked to the counter with a copy of the album. I think it was the double-bass on the back cover that did it.

Man am I happy to go on impulse sometimes! Sunrise over Sea has not left the inside of my CD player ever since. It's definetely the most interesting find I've made in the rock arena since Derek Trucks (assuming one classifies Derek as rock, which could be debatable...)

First of all, John Butler himself is a very impressive acoustic guitarist, at ease with fast picking and slide playing, and a nice, unassuming singer. If that wasn't enough, his writing is fresh and vivid, both lyrically and musically. To top it all, his sidemen are excellent in their own field, very together, and bring the best support for both his guitar playing and his singing. Not bad, for a guy I didn't even know of three weeks ago, eh ?

One thing that really impresses me in this album is that the material is both varied and cohesive. From the groovy hip-hop on Treat Yo Mama to the melancholic aggresiveness of Sometimes, the music sounds at times hendrixian, at times dylanesque, and at no time passé. Furthermore, and that's rare enough in rock to need mentioning, although it would be excessive to describe Butler's songs as complex writing, there's an evident thought given to dynamics.

A great example of that is Peaches & Cream, the second song on the album: it's 6:47 long and starts as a solo acoustic ballad. It's a somewhat introspective song, and as the verses advance, you find yourself getting drawn into the song and sharing the interrogation. Then subtly, after three or four minutes, the rest of the band joins in. Their backing lifts the song up, it really gives it a different feel, and it's a bit like the song evolved and you with it. Great stuff. No genius involved, just excellent use of the tools at their disposal.

I am tempted to compare this record to three of the most interesting acoustic rockers of the moment, namely G. Love, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. Butler sometimes strays towards G Love's groove and there's a definite kinship with the instrumentation, but whereas G Love is often all groove, all rock or all folky, Butler is always somewhere in between these three pillars. Butler's guitar playing, especially his use of effects like wah-wah on acoustic guitar playing is reminiscent at times of Ben Harper, but I feel Butler is the better soloist of the two and his writing is a little less cerebral. Finally, some of the tracks have that laid back feel that you can only find on Jack Johnson records, although Butler knows when to make the engine roar, something that Johnson never does. So in the end, although I think there's a definite familiarity within John Butler's style, he is no less his own man, and I don't feel his work to be in any way derivative.

So, what else can I say? I tried it on a whim, and I discovered something truly unique and exciting. I think you should try it too. Certainly if you're into any of the artists mentioned above, there are chances you'll find something to hang onto in Sunrise over Sea. If you enjoy rock from back when the word still meant something but like to hear stuff that's modern and fresh, then the dynamics, the wah-wah guitar sounds and the driving rhythms should grab you. And if you're just into sepia toned black and white photos with acoustic string instruments featured, well, you will at least get a kick out of the cover and sleevenotes!

CLick here to purchase the John Butler Trio's 'Sunrise over Sea' from Amazon.com