Kevin Montgomery

Another Long Story is a classy and beautifully rendered collection of singer/songwriter tunes that deserves to be embraced by Americana fans. It was belatedly released in the States nearly four years after it's completion, and a few years after it saw the light of day in England, where it was warmly received. With his yearning tenor voice somewhat like Emitt Rhodes and Harry Nilsson, along with a personality-focused Springsteen/Neil Young-styled approach, Montgomery creates music that takes a while to seep in, but once it does, remains imbedded in the listener's brain. Although recorded with different band members and producers, in several studios at a variety of times, it amazingly melds together seamlessly. Like Dave Alvin's characters, Montgomery's protagonists have a gloomy past, and an even bleaker future. Song titles such as "Broken," "Stumbled," and the title track tell their stories without hearing the words. Still, like Springsteen, whose "I Wish I Were Blind" he covers, these melodies are so strong that they never succumb to their rather depressing lyrics. Similar to the Jayhawks, the grayish tunes are immaculately crafted, borrowing from rootsy folk, rock, pop, and country, but seldom falling into one genre. The sympathetic backing supports, yet never steals the spotlight from Montgomery's vulnerable vocals. Each cut is a dusky gem, and although there are few rockers, the slow to mid-tempo ballads mesh into an album that exudes a cozy, melancholy glow. A real find. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide