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Todd Gordon: love dot com
BySome excellent, and unexpected, song choices can be found here. Karl Wallinger's "She's The One," Jimmy Webb's "Didn't We" and Roddy Frame's "Somewhere In My Heart" are all beautiful, catchy, songs that sit comfortably with Gordon's approach. Gordon is an avowed Frank Sinatra fanone reason why he includes Bob Gaudio and Jake Holmes' "Goodbye (She Quietly Says)" on this release. His own approach to singing is smoother than Sinatra's: closer to classy easy listening crooners such as Andy Williams or Jack Jones.
On Helping the Heroes the band and the guest singers helped Gordon to create an atmospheric albumhis enjoyment, especially in partnerships with Clare Teal and Jacqui Dankworth, was almost palpable. The musicians on love dot com, recorded at South Korea's Kyung Hee University, lack the drive of the Squadronaires and at times seem uninvolved with the songstechnically able but failing to make that emotional connection. "I Honestly Love You" and "Do You Believe" lack the musical intensity that their lyrics and melodies deserve and come across as lacklustre. Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)" is sung by a grieving son, contemplating suicide by jumping from the top of a tall buildingthe musicians' detached approach has none of the despair or melancholy such a narrative deserves.
When instrumentalists connect, when their emotional involvement matches their technique, Gordon responds positively and the songs become the stronger as a result. "She's The One" is a case in point, Han Woonki's guitar solo is perfectly-judged. So, too, is Morgan Visconti's "When Hell Freezes Over," with a suitably menacing rhythm and heavy rock guitar. John Lennon's "Julia" works beautifullyEun Jin Lim's cello matches Gordon's voice for warmth and engagement and the result is the album's most impressive track.
Track Listing
Alone Again (Naturally); Julia; Holding On; Somewhere In My Heart; I Honestly Love You; Goodbye (She Quietly Says); A Little White Ship; She's The One; I Remember Sky; Love Dot Com; Didn't We; Let's Face The Music And Dance; Do You Believe; When Hell Freezes Over.
Personnel
Todd Gordon
vocalsTodd Gordon: vocals; Im Dalkyun: saxophone; David Patrick: piano; Han Woonki: guitar; Martin Zenker: bass; Eun Jin Lim: cello; Jang Seungho: bass (13); Kim Minchan: drums (13); Sunny Kim: vocals (12).
Album information
Title: love dot com | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: STEM