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B
Artist
Brian Larney
12+ albums
smart pop
about
For years singer-songwriter Brian Larney had been a band guy quietly amassing a solo back catalog of exquisite pop-rock. Though he felt fulfilled in the collaborative partnership of a band, deep down he always wondered whether he could create something uniquely his own. With the sophisticatedly accessible At The Starting Line (Nunya Records) he proves he can, and boldly showcases his personal and prodigious songwriting gifts. “It’s a triumph of the spirit,” the Bridgeport, Connecticut artist says laughing playfully. “I always hid within bands so everything about this is like starting over, hence the title, At The Starting Line. At The Starting Line conjures up the refined hooks and winsome introspection of artists such as Crowded House’s Neil Finn, Michael Penn, and XTC’s Andy Partridge. Larney seasons his imaginative songs with a modicum of Americana replete with back porch harmonies and shimmering twang. Larney’s writing manages to be both wry and wide-eyed. “You Me And Allison” is a clever “us verses them” anthem, with expansive ringing guitars elegantly adorning a masterfully written folk song core. “That’s a song about friends going ‘let’s take off!’” Larney explains. “I like the idea of three people as a team against the world, everybody usually seems to do two people against the world.” Larney’s vocals are sweetly plaintive, imbuing the weightier tunes with an elegant poignancy. On “Why God Why” he sings: Wake up Dad I need you now/Is this the place you were layed d
