Carry On, San Vicente

Dave Barnes is a performer that – similar to Chris Stapleton – the industry has a soft spot for. And, he’s earned every bit of that praise. With cuts from Blake Shelton, Billy Currington, Tim McGraw, and Kelly Clarkson to his credit, he’s definitely one of the most-respected singer-songwriters of this era.

At the same time, Barnes has been a recording artist for a long time, and his ninth album qualifies as nothing short of ear candy. In the notes that accompany the disc, Barnes talks about his being influenced by such 70s California mainstays as Fleetwood Mac and Jackson Browne, and it shows here.

In fact, if you were to have told me that these songs were lost and unreleased tracks from The Eagles, I would have definitely believed you. Barnes does an unbelievable job conjuring up the magic of Frey and Henley. And, keep in mind that Carry On, San Vicente was recorded – and finished – long before Frey’s untimely passing. So, this stands as a noble tribute to a sound that defined him as an artist as opposed to trying simply to cash in on the moment.

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Sounds Like Nashville