((Text of the review follows.))
By Andrew Miller, Pitch Weekly, K.C., MO June 15th, 2000
David Hakan
In Midtown
As its title - and such lyrics as If you eat at Chubby's late at
night, I'll bet you live in midtown - suggests, David Hakan's
latest work also pays homage to Kansas City's vibrant midsection.
Unlike Priolo, Hakan condenses his tribute to the area into one
song, the solo acoustic title track, which goes on to describe
the Westport area as where creative, unique, artistic, and
cantankerous folks are found. Such lyrics might be easier for
local listeners to relate to, but they're far from the only
clever content on an album that also contains a poignant tribute
to a dearly departed family member and his dog (Socrates and the
Angel of Death") and a cautionary tale about the "Flood
of '93." Although Hakan handles much of the instrumentation
on the disc, which compiles 13 of his songs written between 1993
and '98, he does get stellar assistance from fiddle and banjo
players on the country romp "We're Gone" and from
vocalist Lezlie Revelle, who adds fire to both "Shawnee
Farm" and the album's finest tune, "Coyote Song."
On a few songs, a chorus of local artists who participate in a
local showcase known as the Songwriters Circle joins in on the
harmonies. On the tunes that are, for the most part, just Hakan,
his guitar, and an easy-going melody, the songwriter receives a
subtle but effective boost from an accordion or cello. To
paraphrase Hakan, if you enjoy country-tinged folk, I'll bet
you'll like In Midtown.
David Hakan's Homepage *
* CD Loose Upon The Street * Loose
Upon The Street Lyrics * CD Dancing Now * Dancing
Now Lyrics * CD In Midtown *
In Midtown Lyrics * CD MP3 Catching Angels
* Catching Angels Lyrics * Photos
* David's Bio * Review
of In Midtown * Review of Dancing Now