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Driftin' Years Reviews:
It’s fitting that singer/songwriter Paul Coady thanks
the “pals who have hoisted a drink or two at shows”
on the jacket of Driftin’ Years. He recorded the 11 straightforward
rock songs with the idea of recreating the atmosphere of a
live performance in a club. Coady’s at his best channeling
The Stones or Bob Seger on the workingman’s lament, “Nothin’
For Free,” and on the opening track, “Show
You How.”
Terrence Flamm
Illinois
Entertainer
Paul Coady is a twenty year veteran of the Chicago music scene
and was with the band Prairie Town. Driftin 'Years (self-released)
is the kind of rock'n'roll that will never perish as long
as there are people who believe in the sacred fire of uncomplicated
pop music. And Coady does, which was evident everywhere. His
way of singing for example: A rough rock voice like Mick Jagger
and on Another Lost Night it even sounds like Kurt
Cobain. Show You How is a strong opener. It exudes
the same energy as the fantastic debut of Redwing (1971).
Coady's rootsy garage rock is as American as the vast plains
of the Midwest. On the country rocking Billy Needed Killin
'(about Billy the Kid), for the voice of Coady think Domingo
Samudio, of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Coady (vocals,
guitars, harmonica) writes narrative songs and is a rocker.
Maybe Baby is a cover of Buddy Holly that we know well.
(translated from Dutch)
John Gjaltema
altcountry.nl
Coady has been around the Chicagoland rock scene forever,
always delivering some solid, working class, rock n roll for
the regular guy. But this newest release really cranks up
everything that makes his earnest, heartland songwriting so
special. I have always dug PC, but the lead track here "Show
You How" is probably twice as good as anything I've
ever heard him do. Screw Mellencamp, you want Midwestern everyman
rock, that's willing to reference everything from Buddy Holly
("Maybe Baby"), to the Boss ("Nothin'
For Free"), to American history ("Billy Needed
Killin', about the Kid not Corgan) Coady is your cat.
-
Jake Austen, Roctober Magazine (#49, 2011)
Quarter Mile Reviews:
Recording Magazine - November 2009
Review of "Not Gonna Run" from Paul Coady's CD "Quarter
Mile"
Music: "Not Gonna Run" is a male vocal rock
song. Paul wrote, engineered, produced and mixed the track.
He also sang lead and played the guitar and organ. The bass
was played by Rob Fore, the drums by Joe Klapka, and Dave
Stepanich provided additional guitar.
Recording: Every now and then we get a submission
whose sound quite accurately matches the environment in which
it was recorded. Such is the case with "Not Gonna Run".
Paul tells us that the song was "recorded in my unfinished
basement/laundry room. Main guitar, bass and drums recorded
live with a scratch vocal. Recorded in as much a plug-in and
play method as possible, allowing bleed between the instruments.
Final vocal, organ and additional guitar recorded as overdubs.
Eleven tracks used."
Fair enough then, so how's it sound? Well, pretty much as
advertised. We hear an energetic, gritty band pumping out
a heartfelt mid-western version of Exile on Main Street.
Paul has done a nice job separating the guitars using tone
and panning (a la Keith and Mick Taylor) in order to give
each its own voice. The drums have a nice organic feel to
them, particularly the kick with its '60s-style thump. Paul's
raspy lead vocal is also well represented, no sibilance or
digital nastiness to be found.
Suggestions: So, does "Not Gonna Run" get
the big thumbs up? Well, as the man says, "it's great
if you like that sort of thing." In other words, someone
who is deep into pop, modern R&B and other heavily produced
styles would likely find Paul's effort to be somewhat lacking.
After all, most modern sessions use more than eleven tracks
on just the drums!
If however, your tastes run more towards indie rock, this
may sound right in the ball park for you. As for us, we love
the energy and the honesty of the track. Have we heard better
tones? You bet. But we're not convinced that the song would
have been more successful with them.
Summary: Rock on, boys!
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"For more years than I can remember Coady fronted Prairie
Town, a great regional combo that combined rootsy Americana
with the kind of bar band earnestnest that made you wish they
were playing at your party. After a recent amicable parting
of ways, the remaining members became Go Time and Paul went
solo. And the party's over! These are some amazing moody,
introspective compositions; really solid songs that explore
some dark places, though not all are grim (a bar band take
on "Piano Man" called "Sell a Lot of Beer"
is more of a philosphical shrug than a suicide note). While
you probably don't want him playing your birthday, you would
do well to check out this Chicago classic."
- Jake Austen, Roctober Magazine (#47
September, 2009)
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"Singer/Songwriter Paul Coady is a masterful storyteller.
He tells his story through his amazing music with enriching
lyrics and soulful vocals. Paul also mixes Americana and Rock
into his music that fit perfectly together. If you are a fan
of music with meaning and purpose, then Paul Coady will surely
delight."
- Isaac Davis, Jr., Junior's Cave Magazine - www.juniorscave.com
**************************************
"First off. "Not Gonna Run" is a cool track."
-Alexandria, www.mymusicsite.com
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