David Ford: Songs for the Road

This record’s been out for a while on the other side of the pond, but now David Ford’s long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s I Sincerely Apologize For All the Trouble I’ve Caused is being released in North America courtesy of the good people at Original Signal Recordings.

On Songs for the Road, David Ford proves that he’s one of those rare talents that can rip your heart out with a simple turn of a phrase without making you feel like you’ve been manipulated. The songs on this record create an intimate experience, with sparse arrangements of usually nothing more than Ford accompanying himself on piano or acoustic guitar, that take the listener on a one-of-a-kind tour of emotion highs (the stellar choruses of tunes like “Decimate” and “Nobody Tells Me What to Do” in particular) and lows (tender moments like the title track) and all stops in between.

At times reminiscent of the older work of Tom Waits with a less gruff voice, or a much, much younger Billy Joel, Ford has crafted a deceptively short record chock full of golden moments. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the unfolding details that you don’t realize that you’ve only heard nine songs in a relatively short 37 minute span. But this is a record that doesn’t overstay its welcome, to say the least; neither does it leave you wanting for more. It’s solid, direct and to the point, and I’d dare say that for what it is it’s actually a perfect length.

Search for songs by David Ford on iTunes