Lance Cowan
Against the Grain
Lance Cowan spent three decades as a music publicist before issuing his debut CD, So Far, So Good, last year. Now, this late-blooming folk/Americana singer/songwriter has a second album, and it evidences no sophomore slump; in fact, Against the Grain is at least as likable as its excellent predecessor.
Cowan provides guitar and affecting lead vocals and composed all 10 songs, half of them with co-writers and many of them about aspects of love. Backup musicians add pedal steel, lap steel, electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, piano, organ, bass, and, on one track, cello.
Not every number hits its mark, and an occasional cliché slips into the lyrics. (“Her love kept me warm inside,” Cowan sings at one point.)
But songs you’ll likely want to return to predominate on this gently delivered album, much of which has a Laurel-Canyon-in-the-seventies feel. “One More Chance” and “I Can’t Stand the Winter” are among several selections that sound like ones the Eagles might have recorded.
​
– Jeff Burger
​
​