The solo debut of the former member of
Dog's Eye View presents a mainstream singer/songwriter, sensitive but with some straight-ahead rock guts.
Stuart has opened for
Counting Crows, whose
Adam Duritz sings backing vocals on "Propeller Girl," and it's easy to see how he might appeal to fans of bands such as
Counting Crows, with his open-hearted vocals and musical similarities to classic rock acts of the 1970s. The songs are usually ambiguous relationship statements, both bewailing romantic failures and admitting a need for closeness, sometimes (as in "Propeller Girl") with the same woman who's already caused him his fair share of pain. The arrangements range from guitar pop to orchestrated, confessional balladry (on "Innocence" and "Bring You Back"), and mildly funky rock ("With My Heart in Your Hands," "The Real You") to slightly downbeat, slightly jazzy meditation ("Let's Get Lost" and "Here I Am Here").
Peter Case co-wrote "Songs About You." ~ Richie Unterberger