Livingston guitar-playing troubadour Sean Devine has his third recording out. Devine, who grew up in a musical family and cut his teeth on jam sessions at Doc Allison’s farm, played his own songs solo and in bands early on. He’s played around the country and in England, and produced albums for others (Ben Bullington’s Two Lane Highway, for one).
Last year he performed in Austin, and met musicians who felt like long-lost comrades. “Everywhere you turn is a rich legacy of singer/songwriters who never thought about making it on the radio,” he says.
Devine wrote the title song, “Austin Blues,” there. A year later he was back to record it, and the rest of the album followed. Transplanted Montanans like bass player Kenny Williams, late of Montana Rose, and fiddle and mandolin player Bryan Paugh, helped out. Others provided drums, electric and steel guitars, bass, piano, organ, cello, and back-up vocals.
Like all good storytellers, Devine mines the deep well of introspection with thoughtful lyrics and pretty melodies. His soft, burry voice comfortably navigates both baritone and tenor ranges deftly as he sings in an almost conversational style.
Montana sits smack-dab in the middle of Devine’s heart, whether he’s coming or going, and some songs reference that. In “The Hi Line” he’s leaving the bitter cold of Montana winters, singing to a quick bluegrass sound; “I’m Going Home” has slide guitar and the clickety-clack feel of the railroad. “There’s something calling to my mind,” he sings, “a mountain stream, a clear blue sky.” It’s got a melody familiar yet new.
He sings with the piano on “Change Me,” and “I’ll Leave Anything Behind but You.” The bonus track is ”Whiskey Creek,” a duet with fiddler Paugh. It’s a delightful and raw old-time number.
Lots of good stuff here. The seamless Austin production is superb, which should come as no surprise.
Visit www.facebook.com/seandevinemusic.
– Mariss McTucker