(2022) Gregor Barnett - Don't Go Throwing Roses In My Grave          


Review:
Known for his work leading The Menzingers, Gregor Barnett has split away from his punk sensibilities to try something a little different. His first solo album, Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave, features a more delicate side of Barnett’s lyricism and musicianship, paving a new way in his music career, while bringing the same energy that made him so great in The Menzingers. Taking inspiration from the likes of Tom Waits and Nick Cave, and steering into a more Americana direction for Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave, we see a darker side to Gregor Barnett. This album serves as a desperate cry of personal strife, loss, and wondering what is happening around him. The lyrics are universally resonating, putting words to thoughts and ideas that I believe most people have felt or are feeling. That’s partially thanks to the pandemic, and partially thanks to personal loss in the singer’s own life. The first single released in November, “Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave” is a beautiful song that truly captures that Americana feel. Utilizing acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and harnessing a sound that seems to be directly inspired by musicians like Warren Zevon, he creates a sound that is familiar and comforting. Lyrically, it sounds as if it’s straight from a Hemingway novel, minus the machismo, with lyrics like, “Lately my life feels just like the eve of a Spanish bullfight, Where the Toro Bravo will die tomorrow, and the matador will feel no sorrow.” Followed by the single “The First Dead Body I Ever Saw,” this features a darker tone sonically, and as the song slowly chugs along, it builds up, until it explodes and overflows at the end. It sounds like a song that could have been featured in an old Western film, which is a feeling many of the songs on this album have. This is a bit grittier than the first single; however, both have their respective places on the album, and are both perfect examples of what you should expect from Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave. The singles are only a glimpse into what this album holds. Songs like “Hurry Me Down to Hades”, and “Driving Through the Night” offer a more rock oriented sound while still delivering on that theme of Americana. That’s what is so well done about this album. It stays true to the vision it creates in the beginning and really shows that Gregor Barnett is great at creating a concept and seeing it through.





Track List:
1.Oh Lord, What Do You Know? 03:30
2.Driving Through the Night 04:10
3.The First Dead Body I Ever Saw 04:14
4.No Peace of Mind to Rest 04:17
5.Talking to Your Tombstone 04:09
6.Don't Go Throwing Roses In My Grave 03:59
7.Hurry Me Down to Hades 04:12
8.Anthem For the One I Love 03:04
9.At a Greyhound Station, Desperate 04:12
10.Guest In Your House 04:55


Media Report:
Genre: folk-rock, indie-rock
Country: USA
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits


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