Let’s Call it “Charm”

contributor: Ed Thanhouser, Feb. 7th, 2010

Brian Rozendal is one of those singer-songwriters I’ve had the pleasure of watching grow, expand and flourish during his time on the Portland folk scene. A regular at local open-mics, I remember clearly my first impression of the slightly bookish, amicable guy who would take the stage and start howling over his guitar about pain, loss and epiphany. Since that time, he’s recorded an impressively lush full-length record, and now fronts a large band of musicians, including pedal steel, upright bass and more. That many great musicians are so willing to lend a hand to Brian’s songs speaks plainly to their merit. They are catchy, well composed, and have plenty of emotional depth. Appropriately, the group produces a sonic size proportionate to its physical one: big, full arrangements, dripping with honeyed slide notes, full of crescendo and bombast. (continue reading…)