Rob Laufer “The Iron Age”
Rob Laufer is an L.A. session man who’s played with Frank Black, Fiona Apple, George Martin, Johnny Cash, Shawn Colvin and others. He’s also on his fourth album (see below) but The Iron Age really propelled him into the spotlight. Laufer has an uncanny melodic nature and the opener “Starstuff” compares well with Todd Rundgren. This is followed by the stunner “Did You See Her Dance,” a near perfect pop single lead by a solid guitar riff. Laufer’s approach is also a wistful acoustic pop similar to David Mead or The Finn Brothers on “Mr. Perry.” But the impressive high energy melodies are all over tracks like “Inside Story” and “Open” in between the slower tunes, like the easy listening gem “Backseat.” The double tracked guitar melodies in “Car Crash Boyfriend” is another highlight, and the Kinks-related “In the Frame” was tailor-made for an HP commercial that previously used Davies’ “Picture Book” as the theme. A really good album by an underrated musician, who deserves more attention.
Rob Laufer “Excruciating Bliss”
On his latest disc, Laufer plays bit more somber here, with the psychedelic “Come On Sunshine” melody phasing in and out. The track “New Life” is like a Beatles-styled blues pop with a wicked bridge and one of the album highlights. The emotional exasperation comes through on the McCartney-like “Faith.” The theme of frustration reaches it’s apex on “Falling Birds,” a sensitive ballad in the Harry Nilsson mold, sung with hushed whispers. With the exception of “Mary Entertaining” much of the remaining album is decidedly downbeat. The influences here are more Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Mark Knopfler and that’s just fine with me. There are some musical excursions here that aren’t that memorable, but the music doesn’t get stale either. “Tears of Home” is a winning example of a piano led song that is equally sad as it is compelling.
