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Asa Brebner
Asa Brebner - I Walk The Streets
(Accurate)
 A self-proclaimed “wandering minstrel,” Asa Brebner has walked the streets
of song for many years. On his latest album, he takes a moment to show you
his musical photo album.
Opening with the all-too-familiar bullhorned cry of the Cambridge DPW, the
tile track is a breezy, behind-the-beat Byrd-ian bounce propelled by
Morphine skin man Billy Conway. “Unhappy Birthday Girl” opens with
Springsteen chimes, then drifts into Petty structures which are sure to
break your heart. As with many troubadours, Brebner touches repeatedly on
themes of romance and loss.Unlike many of his musical colleagues, however,
Asa takes a more direct and active approach on songs like the cynical
heart-pounder “Love Only Makes The World Go Around” and the jaunty jew-harped
porch rocker “Thru With Girls” (which is raggedly reprised at album’s
end). As for his other musical motif, Brebner looks back at the idea of
looking back through such thoughtful tunes as “Don’t Ever Lose A Memory,”
“Turn Back The Pages” (another reference to McGuinn?) and “At Least Nobody
Has Our Memories,” another lamenting swayer featuring John Sands on drums
and Borther Cleve on keys.
Brighter than Brebner’s live act yet still sweetly sibilant and pleasantly
rough, Streets is a great place to walk with an road-tested minstrel
through a variety of musical cities and towns, meeting and losing loves
and gathering memories.
- Matthew S. Robinson
© 2000 M. S. Robinson, ARR
Be sure to read his Live Review...
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