This Is Book’s Music

It may be self-titled but it is not Holmes‘ first release. His name is also not Holmes, but rather Roy Shakked. But Holmes he is for his music, and he feels most at home when he’s in a room putting his musical talents to the test, as he does on his new album (Groove Gravy).

If you are familiar with Holmes/Shakked, you may know what kind of sound he tried to achieve. But for this one he takes a different approach. Gone are most of the quirky samples and present is an earthiness, which is a journalistic way of saying he is using more instrumentation and tapping into his songwriting capabilities to create something that is more about the human machine than a sequenced one. Bring to mind the eclectic vibe of Beck and John Frusciante, mix in the pop sheen of Ben Folds and Elton John and what you’ll hear is someone who is making music for people who have forgotten what good music should sound like. “Let Go” is about the need to put things behind in our lives, done in a style that sounds like Steely Dan if they hung out smoking weed to Paul McCartney albums opposed to praising the ways of Rudy Van Gelder.

I believe the words of Paul Morley, where he said that pop music is at its most adventurous even when it’s the mundane that gets all of the attention. Holmes is someone who is very confident in the music he makes, or at least makes an attempt to become the confident confidant. He makes music that you want to rely on and spoon with each morning. Those who listen to this will eat this up and pass it along to friends who are musically malnourished.

(Holmes’ self-titled second album will be released on August 11th, and will be available through his official SweetHolmes.com website.)

(Groove Gravy)