Special to the Tribune
Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard is known for his work on the soundtrack to the movie “Once.” Hansard specializes in visceral belting and emotional crooning helping his success go beyond the film’s hit song, “Falling Slowly.”
The four-track EP, “Drive All Night,” named after the Springsteen classic that Hansard covers, was released to raise money for the charity “Little Kids Rock” – an organization that supports and restores music education in public schools. Many of the songs on the album have been played by Hansard at live concerts, but have never been recorded on an official release.
This troubadour proves that conquering Springsteen masterpieces is no easy task, but the earnest singer slips easily into the role of expert cover artist in “Drive All Night.” In this opening track, Hansard proves he works well with others, collaborating with Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder and saxophonist Jake Clemons.
Hansard & Co. stick to Springsteen’s nearly nine-minute song format, which manages to add to the impact of a tricky cover. Hansard’s smooth voice turns the classic tune into an all-enveloping musical experience. It’s a warm blanket that swallows the listener whole. Bright, brassy horns and strings riddle the tune, pulling and twisting at its foundation to make it Hansard’s own.
It maintains Springsteen’s simple, American-roots sound and lyrics like “I swear I’ll drive all night just to buy you some shoes / And to taste your tender charms / And I just wanna sleep tonight again in your arms,” but cracks the song’s foundation with his voice, always Hansard’s strength.
The way “Drive All Night” builds and wanes works well with Hansard’s vocal range and intensity, less gruff than The Boss but still powerful. Shoes or no shoes, Hansard wears this song well.
In “Pennies in the Fountain,” Hansard adds an up-tempo streak to an otherwise somber album, but it is sleepy and forgettable. Edgy jazz is not Hansard’s forte; he should have stuck with his signature, classic sounds. Kenny G would fit in nicely with this song, and its four minutes and 56 seconds seem to drag on for ages. Hansard coos about the theme of the joys of loving and throwing pennies in a fountain for fun. While his simplicity aids Hansard in some songs, here it becomes both monotonous and twee.
Hansard recovers some of his passion in the track “Renata” — a painful serenade to women that string men along, only to drop them when the winds change. The bluesy tune is lovely, yet somewhat forgettable. The whole idea of “she led me on, then she dumped me, my heart is in pieces” has been overplayed and overdone so many times, and Hansard makes no attempts to spice it up.
Hansard’s roots are especially showcased (and the EP is saved) in the fourth and final song – the a cappella “Step out of the Shadows.” Hansard takes a simple folk tune that mimics a traditional Irish ballad, and uses his beautiful, clear voice to lift it to new heights. “It’s all out there for you waiting / If you’re wiling to become / Step out of the shadows, my little one.” It is simple, powerful and delicate, all characteristics that Hansard has mastered. This last song is worth the wait, and quite frankly makes up for the blundering banality of “Pennies in the Fountain.”
“Drive All Night” is filled to the brim with crooning, soft, almost unnoticeable, nuances and lessons on love. But though Hansard often shines on simple, folky tunes, here he seems especially unadventurous and Hansard’s two solid tracks at the beginning and end of the album are unable to obscure the trips and stumbles along the way. Hopefully, this simple release is not indicative of what’s around the corner for this otherwise talented performer.
3.5 out of 5 stars