The Solo Road | Posted June 19, 2009
Louisiana native Phillip LaRue, the male half of defunct (and under-appreciated) brother/sister band LaRue, takes a break from his busy songwriting and producing schedule to release a project of personal material. LaRue is given free reign by producing partner Tyson Paoletti, allowing him to personally and expressively explore and define his inner muse. The expression of this creative freedom makes Let The Road Pave Itself an extremely palatable disc of subtly flavored pop and atypical contemporary music.
If you’ve had the privilege of residing in or visiting the state of Louisiana, you’ve hopefully come to the conclusion that it is a singularly unique member of the Union with its veritable gumbo of cultural influences. The musical flavor of Let The Road Pave Itself is similarly varied and broad. LaRue’s voice forms the backbone for all 12 songs, with piano, acoustic guitar and drums providing a simple, yet solid supporting framework. Touches of Delta Blues, acoustic jazz and southern folk, rock and gospel influences flesh out the project, creating a savory and distinctive sound.
The only drawback to this album is the overabundance of mid-tempo pieces and the repetitive use of tempo changes and musical fades midway through songs to showcase the emotive timbre of LaRue’s vocals.
Chris Rodriguez’s Beggar’s Paradise, Brandon Heath’s Don't Get Comfortable and Leigh Nash’s Blue On Blue come to mind as apt comparisons to Let The Road Pave Itself; though not necessarily stylistically similar. Other comparable artists, at their quietest and/or quirkiest, include Between The Trees, Chasen, Ruth and Telecast. Music lovers bored with the “same ol’, same ol’” should venture a little off the road more taveled and sample this personal and distinct project.
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