Shakey Graves (Alejandro Rose-Garcia) has a gruff voice with an ethereal edge. He sounds like he’s whispering in your ear even when he sings at full volume. In his latest single, “When the Love Is New”, Graves keeps his vocals rough and low. He sings of love as if he’s jaded by past experiences, only to surprisingly discover a sweet spark in his heart. Graves tells himself this love, too, will fade, even as he promises himself and his lover it will last.
Graves can barely be heard over his acoustic guitar picking, which adds to the proceedings’ intimacy. He sings of love as a slow burn. He synchronizes his voice with his guitar playing to emphasize the intensity of his feelings, aided by the steady, martial drumbeat. There’s something cool about the whole thing, as in 1950s noir flicks. He’s more James Dean than Frank Sinatra, with a touch of Elvis. Shakey Graves takes on the persona of a quiet rebel in search of what is true. His music suggests that maybe he’s found it, or maybe this time it’s just another prelude to the blues.