Jeffrey Foucault
Stripping Cane

(Signature Sounds)

First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2004, Volume 11, #9

Written by John Metzger

As an acoustic guitar wielding, folk singer trying to make a living, Jeffrey Foucault has a long road ahead of him. After all, it takes a tremendous amount of talent and persistence for like-minded artists to gain even the slightest bit of attention, given the staggering number of mediocre performers mining similar territory in a music market that has a tendency to favor style over substance. Fortunately, Foucault is a mighty force with which to be reckoned — at least as far as his sophomore effort Stripping Cane is concerned. Tackling a broad range of subjects that include a bittersweet return home (Cross of Flowers), the brevity of life (Mayfly), and the accidental death of a friend (Doubletree), Foucault unleashes a dozen genuine gems that soothe the ears and stir the emotions sitting deep within one’s soul. By infusing his songs with a voluminous amount of subtlety and nuance, Foucault recalls the great achievements of Bruce Cockburn and Chris Smither without ever appearing as if he’s trying very hard. With great certainty, giving such an effortless performance is no easy task to bear, especially under the conditions in which he undoubtedly is forced to ply his wares night after night. Indeed, when on a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Lodi, he sings "if I only had a dollar, for every song I’ve sung and every time I’ve had to play while people sat there drunk," it’s done with an all-knowing sneer of quiet resignation at the circumstances that surround the path he’s chosen to follow. ½

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Ratings

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box