Vanish Valley: Get Good

Vanish Valley
Get Good
Hard Bark
2011-09-27

Three notes into this record and you already know that Vanish Valley’s Andrew McAllister (ex-Conrad Ford) is a major songwriting talent. With an ability to compose simple but well-orchestrated pieces, he makes you understand that this is material born of experience, both trying and triumphant, all of it decidedly real. “Country Flowers”, “Races” and “Stuck In L.A.” emerge as first time favorites but others, such as “Brick Buildings”, “The Bottom” and “Stumbling Man” quickly win the listener over on the second and subsequent listens. Joined by bassist Guy Christiano, keyboardist Alex Owen, and drummer Daniel Goldblatt, McAllister delivers a highly memorable record in Get Good that makes it difficult to wait for more.

RATING 7 / 10