Bob Harp
"Collecting Dust"
Self-Released
bobharp.com

   

AUGUSTA, GA - San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Bob Harp self releases his sophomore effort "Collecting Dust" with a strong shot of Dylan and a chaser of Kerouac. Ten tracks filled with Harp’s harmonica, guitar, and moody vocals; "Collecting Dust" delivers the soft, acoustic sounds of country fused with catchy, sensitive folk.

As the follow up to 2005’s Good Misery, Harp’s second album "Collecting Dust" comes from Bob Harp’s most current road trip through the Southwest. Harp expresses a deep well of emotions but also adds that layer of road-weary sweat and tears that make a record real.

Songs like “Reno Town Blues” delve deep into the bluesy old time sound of traditional country, venturing into a heartfelt western feel that belies Harp’s age. If someone didn’t know better, they might think Bob Harp is straight out of the bygone era of country, back when a musician earned his way to the Opry and pulled himself up out of the dust with his own bootstraps. It has that authentic, moody train-riding feel.

Other tracks like “Through the Door” bring out a feel good southern rag time piano and that signature Dylan-esque harmonica. Harp pounds out a great song with this one, just inspiring some foot tapping fun, the kind that makes a person stick their head out the window of a car and feel the cool breeze against their face. The slower mood driven “Dead Winter” still plays to the lonesome cowboy but is a little more modern country.  Harp’s voice pours out of the speakers with a haunting clarity and truth.

“One Last Night in California” is a little more experimental, showcasing a more alternative, edgy sensibility to Bob Harp’s sound, showcasing his ability to expand beyond the traditional into far more complex musicianship. This song just goes to show that Bob Harp is not a one-trick pony by any means, but a cutting edge musician whose style originates from traditional country but has so much more to offer.

"Collecting Dust" is a wonderful masterpiece of sound, blending the old with the new in a way that few artists can do. Harp obviously has his roots in blues and country, but has the talent to rise far above his contemporaries.