Given, the debut album by singer/songwriter Kevin Lee Florence, shows what a powerful thing it is to have a highly adept artist at the helm and a tremendously talented backing band providing additional instrumentation to that artist’s creations. This release, due out on September 16, 2014 from Fluff & Gravy Records, has a handful of notable qualities, but mostly its songs are well-written and nicely executed offerings which get better with each listen. As far as Kevin Lee Florence’s sound, there is a hint of the folky psychedelic rock of the Decemberists, the rich and natural element of Rayland Baxter, vocals akin to what I imagine it would sound like to combine the vocals of M. Ward and Damien Jurado, and the beauty and deeply moving attributes of Sufjan Stevens’ slower, less orchestral compositions. Not only did Florence cover Paul Simon’s “Peace Like A River” and Damien Jurado’s “Ohio,” he teamed up with such recognizable musicians as Jon Button (Sheryl Crow, Robben Ford), James McAlister (Sufjan Stevens, Bill Frisell), Danny Donnelly, and Garth Hudson (The Band). And that is a hell of a studio lineup.
The songs on Given are not shallow songs; they clearly began deep down in Florence and, through his artistic process, found their way to the surface and out to be shared with listeners. They are graceful, but they also know that everything stumbles now and again. In other words, they are exceptional songs with outstanding musicianship, yet humble. And they are such that they won’t just appeal to folk enthusiasts in specific, but lovers of good music in general. Especially with standout tracks like “Alone & Everything,” “Could Today Be the Day,” “Cold & Still,” and “Goodbye, Goodbye.”
Kevin Lee Florence’s Given is the third in a series of indie folk releases by Fluff & Gravy Records. He is further proof that the Pacific Northwest has a well of talent that is plentiful and untainted by the assembly line rubbish consistently spewed forth from the mouth of the mainstream music machine. Thankfully, Fluff & Gravy has the good taste, dedication to music, and resources to give us artists like Florence, as well as the others involved in this indie folk series: Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin.
Check out the teaser video attached to this review to find out what to expect from Given by Kevin Lee Florence.
