Ed Pettersen – Desperate Times
Ed Pettersen is a singer/songwriter from New York and this nearly exclusively acoustic 8 song EP is his first record. The album kicks off with its most up-tempo song, and the only song to utilize drums, “How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live” which is vaguely reminiscent of John Hiatt circa “Slow Turning”. The rest of the record consists of mostly middle of the road mid-tempo or waltz time songs which, though they have their strong points, seemed to blend together somewhat and failed to pull me in and connect with me. One notable exception was the wistful “Pray Morning Comes”, a first person account of war-torn Sarajevo with its sweet, mournful strains of violin shadowing the vocal melody.
Pettersen also receives a little help from his friends on the record. Dave Kincaid (The Brandos) co-produced and plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, and lap steel and Scott Kempner ( Del-Lords) lends his song “Cheyenne” and plays guitar on Pettersens (not Doug Sahms’) ” Texas Tornado”. Also of note is Dion, of Dion & The Belmonts fame, has asked to record “Built To Last”, a Pettersen penned tune of lost love. And lastly, Kurt Cobain must be cocking his head sideways somewhere, with a sly grin at what must be the first song dedicated to him in waltz time, ” High & Lonesome”.