BARD – Angels Got His Back
BARD’s Angels Got His Back is a brilliant synthesis of blues, soul, Americana, and poetic storytelling that honors literary classics while providing a contemporary musical atmosphere. The record, the result of a rediscovered partnership between college friends Jamie Pagliaro and Michael Schreiber, and boosted with the talents of Dave Menez, Mike Potenza, and David Kolk, catches a warm, sound covered in depth and authenticity.
We Flattered Be: The album begins with acoustic guitar lines that flow into electric explodes, providing a nostalgic blues and Americana atmosphere. The lyrics, based on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 138, present a touching illustration of love and sensitivity. This music provides an interesting starting out, thanks to its attracting guitar melodies.
Angels Got His Back: The title track slows the tempo and has a gentle, easy-listening sound. The Eagles-style guitar parts merge easily with Soul vocals inspired by Marvin Gaye. The incorporation of Vachel Lindsay’s poem “In Memory of a Child” increases the song’s emotional impact, providing a touching tribute with a spiritual element.
Walls: Combines classic blues and R&B, with Soul production and vocals. The lyrics, adapted from C.P. Cavafy’s Walls, explore topics of loneliness and regret, providing significant meaning to the song’s bluesy tones.
We Are Such Stuff: The incorporated acoustic and electric guitars on this track produce a smooth, easy-listening song. Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the beautiful lyrics show the temporary nature of life, accompanied with a nostalgic 1970s atmosphere.
Young Just Yesterday: This bluesy ballad, with musical influences from The Doobie Brothers, contrasts vibrant instrumentation with soft, Soul-driven vocals. The song, adapted from Cavafy’s An Old Man, expresses the wistfulness of aging as well as its passing nature of youth.
Thou Art My All: This mid-tempo piece continues the album’s deep journey, mixing soft blues elements with an emotional poetic rendition of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 109. Its sincere performance shows the band’s skills to combine lyrical beauty and musical imagination.
Dread Not the Ferryman: It closes with a dynamic mix of funk and blues guitars, producing a dance rhythm. The lyrics, which are completely original to Jamie Pagliaro, describe a creative story full of mythological and folklore references, while the guitar solos take center stage, highlighting the band’s technical excellence.
The lyrics, which are a mix of classic adaptations and original writing, enhance the album’s artistic quality. Shakespeare, Cavafy, and Lindsay’s writings are effectively incorporated into BARD’s compositions, turning timeless verses into moving musical stories. Angels Got His Back is an outstanding album that brings out the essence of soul, blues, and Americana while also combining it with literary intelligence. This is a must-listen for devotees of classic blues and soul with a postmodern touch.
Photo Credit: BARD photo courtesy of Jamie Pagliaro
https://thebardband.bandcamp.com
