Bradley Gaskin’s new material builds on the promise he first showed more than a decade ago. The Alabama-bred singer/songwriter landed a major label contract and believed his near future was set in stone. Man makes plans, and God laughs, as they say. Gaskin found himself without a label deal shortly after the impressive success of his early 2010s single “Mr. Bartender” and dejected. He packed up, returned home to Alabama, and moved on with his life. Chapter closed.
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A long and surprising path back into the music world lay ahead. Gaskin worked for several years in construction and as a school custodian, nursing lingering wounds from his brush with musical fame, but moving on with his life. A chance encounter with a fan from his “Mr. Bartender” days blossomed into a personal and business relationship that finds Gaskin working under his preferred mandate; he’s writing and recording what he wants, not what someone else wants him to do.
It’s producing memorable results. The recent string of new material I’ve heard from Gaskin suggests that his creative fuel tank continued replenishing itself during his hiatus because he’s hit the ground running. The chief standout for me is “Accidentally Drunk”. It’s impressive to hear Gaskin accomplish two things if nothing else – he absolutely owns his own niche with this kind of material, based on the lyrical bent and vocal interpretation alone, and manages to invoke showstopper performances from country music’s revered past without mimicry.
He’s labeled a traditionalist. “Accidentally Drunk” shows it’s a moniker he wears well. However, there’s no question that Gaskin is singing for 2024 audiences rather than 1964. Outstanding production values highlight a rich and inviting voice that never sounds too regional or otherwise cliched. He’s a straightforward and sensitive conveyor of the material. Gaskin excels, in particular, at realizing the emotional peaks built into a song such as this. He seizes such moments and renders them with a confident style.
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“30A Blonde” is a rollicking good time. It doesn’t intend to leave the same emotional impact on listeners as “Accidentally Drunk” and instead focuses on physically engaging with listeners. Gaskin’s lyrics remain intelligent and direct; he doesn’t dumb down his presentation. It’s a song with a long tradition in popular music, particularly genres like country and rock, and Gaskin’s entry is a concert favorite in waiting. “Sunset and Wine” takes listeners in a serious direction once again. The mid-tempo pacing of the song keeps the listener’s spirits aloft as Gaskin spins a mature, melancholic lyrical web. His songwriting may dabble in formulaic types like the earlier “30A Blonde”, but it is never totally painted by numbers.
“Bumpin’ Buckles” practically begs for a full electric band arrangement. Pairing that with the high-velocity vocal that Gaskin lays down here would give us a different beast. However, this acoustic-driven rendition of the song steers our attention to the words and Gaskin’s full-throated commitment to filling each line with meaning. Passion is a constant across Bradley Gaskin’s new material and bodes well for his forthcoming studio work.
Chadwick Easton