Rocky Votolato-True Devotion

Growth: it’s all you can really hope for when you’re anticipating a long-awaited release from an artist that you admire. To be honest, you expect to hear growth no matter where you can find it. Growth can mean many different things for certain people. Whether it’s expanding upon a certain sound, or branching out into uncharted, new territory; it’s completely necessary in creating any kind of art or contributing to the human experience. If for some reason any of this is comprised, you feel short-changed and cheated, which could potentially ruin everything.

With all that being said, Rocky Votolato’s most recent Barsuk effort True Devotion does not disappoint. True Devotion is the follow up to 2007’s The Brag And The Cuss, which received mixed reviews.

Votolato definitely sticks to what he knows best on True Devotion, which is keeping true to his stripped-down singer songwriter tendencies. The album opens up with the emotional “Lucky Clover Coin,” which is beautifully accompanied by a string arrangement.

The album takes bits of Votolato’s past and expands upon it successfully. The track “Red River” sounds very similar to song that can be found on 2003’s Suicide Medicine, while “Sparklers” sounds like it draws a heavy influence on his 2006 effort Makers. It might seem strange to hear an assortment of songs come together, all of which go back and virtually span Votolato’s entire career, but they all blend together and fit together incredibly well.

The album’s standout song comes right in the middle and can be found in the track titled “Instrument.” The song is Votolato at his best; which is him, his acoustic guitar, and his harmonica. It is vulnerable, and really exemplifies Votolato taking his game to the next level.

Do not sleep on this album. Thematically, this record touches on nearly every emotion that can be found on the spectrum that is human emotion. It has the ability to appeal to nearly anybody, and everybody. It is so delicately, and intricately constructed that it shows how much care went into this album. Please support this man by either purchasing True Devotion, going to see him on his up and coming tour, or just telling a friend about him. Like I’ve said before about Rocky Votolato: he is a musician who is true to his craft. He takes what he does very seriously and injects everything he has into his music, which is commended.

Pre-order True Devotion on vinyl here

Tour Dates:

02/24/10 Wed. New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge
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02/26/10 Fri. Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
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03/02/10 Tues. Portland, OR @ Mississippi Sudios
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03/04/10 Thurs. San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill ##
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03/05/10 Fri. West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour ##
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03/06/10 Sat. Upland, CA @ The Wire Music & Art Venue ##
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03/07/10 Sun. San Diego, CA @ The Casbah ##
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03/08/10 Mon. Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room ##
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03/09/10 Tues. Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad ##
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03/10/10 Wed. Denver, CO @ Hi Dive ##
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03/11/10 Thurs. Provo, UT @ Velour ##
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03/13/10 Sat. Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s ##
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04/01/10 Thurs. Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock **
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04/03/10 Sat. Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar **
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04/05/10 Mon. Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel **
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04/07/10 Wed. Allston, MA @ Great Scott **
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04/10/10 Sat. Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church **
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04/11/10 Sun. Washington DC @ DC9 **
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04/13/10 Tues. Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks **
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04/14/10 Wed. Akron, OH @ Musica **
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04/15/10 Thurs. Newport, KY @ Southgate House **
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## = with Adam H. Stephens (from Two Gallants)
** = with Brooke Waggoner