City Of Black & White

About

This sensitive, Nashville-based singer/songwriter flashed a penchant for rapping hard-hitting stories between sung choruses on his major-label debut, <i>Nothing Left to Lose</i>. Three years later, Kearney's artistic voice minus the raps plays this album out like a love letter. “All I Have” finds Kearny addressing a physically distant love, admitting heartbreak amidst a smooth mix of guitar and piano. On “Closer to Love,” a funky backbeat and soulful piano melody kick in after the line, “I guess we’re all one phone call from our knees,” bolstering the masterful storytelling. “New York to California” is a man-and-his-piano ballad with an intimacy that’s matched by the haunting, carpe-diem-themed “City of Black & White.” There’s a push-and-pull dynamic to this album, but despite the rugged soul-searching, the music is soft and warm, often accented with orchestral instrumentation and tender harmonies. While <i>City of Black & White</i> veers from the hard-luck raps featured on <i>Nothing Left to Lose</i> (reminiscent of singer/rapper Everlast), fans of musicians such as the Fray and Coldplay should be especially pleased with the outcome.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →