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Stefan George “Cloth”

Photo: courtesy MJStringer Photography

“It’s pretty dark, but that’s the way it is sometimes,” Stefan scribed in a note that came with the CD.

Sure enough, it opens with the folky, stark-realities-are-depressing Bad Year for Clowns.

Though there are lyrical themes of a tough life throughout the 16 tracks, the bulk of the tunes are upbeat and catchy. And since its Stefan George, of course there is magnificent blues guitar playing on each track – six of them are just him singing and rocking his axe.

On the other nine tracks, local rock stars contribute their talents (hi – Lavinia White, Rosano Brothers, Jimmy Carr, Craig Schumacher, Bobby Kimmel, Tom Rhodes, Kevin Schramm, Brendan Dance, William Dan Carlos).

I deeply love more than half the tracks on this album and I also deeply love it when Stefan’s voice gets all Tom Waits gravelly-like.

I’m partial to the more upbeat stuff, so with that in mind, the highlights include: Pissin’ at the Moon – a nice ditty with playful horns by the Crawdaddy-O kids; Lucky 13 – songs about bad-ass sinners are always cool, includes tasty harp by Schumacher. Grooved and Rutted – drunk, bluesy, more sinner fun! Crazy One-Eyed Moon, God Damn the Things A Man Can’t Change (yowza!), God Protect Our Hope and Bier Ohne Liebe.

This one goes in heavy rotation! Pick it up for yourself at the CD release party on Saturday, February 20 at Plush. It is also available at 17^th Street Market, Folk Shop and CDBaby.com.