Jon Regen: Almost Home (2004)

Rob Cline

Recent articles (10 total)

Published: July 20, 2004

Singer-songwriter Jon Regen's songs are solid, if not terribly inspired. Accompanying himself on piano and Hammond organ with Jonathan Sanborn on bass and Eric Addeo on drums, Regen plays charts that sound much like stripped down Bruce Hornsby arrangements. His lyrics—covering love, lost love, love for one's child and the troubadour's obligatory lament about touring—are heavy on the rhymes and only occasionally clever or surprising. Given all that, it might seem that Almost Home, Regen's new disc, would be easy to pass over.

But one factor—indeed, the key factor—makes the album worth a spin: Regen is a quality singer. This is not an assessment of his technical ability, but an accolade for the sheer listenability of his voice. Presented straight-up with little if any electronic aid and sparse backup vocals (provided by Regan himself when they are present), Regan's voice—rich, a touch smoky, inviting—elevates the material from catchy-but-commonplace to catchy-and-cool. Provided with better music and lyrics, Regen's voice might carry him a long, long way.

Track Listing: 1. A Hundred Days 2. Hold-Out Your Heart 3. What Am I Supposed To Do From Here 4. Little One 5. Better Than Before 6. I Will Be Here 7. Only My Credit Card Remembers Where I've Been

Personnel: Jon Regen: vocals, piano, Hammond organ; Jonathan Sanborn: bass; Eric Addeo: drums

Record Label: HiTone
Style: Vocal