Review

Iowa Dream Arthur Russell

Comprised of nearly twenty demos recorded throughout his career before his untimely death in 1992, Arthur Russell’s ‘Iowa Dream’ covers a broad swath of styles that tend towards considered, chilled and organic sounds. Regularly hinting at Modern Lovers-era Jonathan Richman, there’s a naïve conversationalism to Russell’s lyrics, while musically we touch on Jazz, Folk, Indie and Americana. At its outer edges, like on ‘Just Regular People’, there’s an experimental vibe that recalls Russell’s work with beat poet Allen Ginsberg. Elsewhere, on ‘You Did It Yourself’ and ‘I Never Get Lonesome’ there’s abundant wit and a bluntness that accentuates the beauty of the plainly spoken lyrics. As a primer on the music of Arthur Russell, these demos will likely encourage many to dig deeper. As an album in their own right they’re also hugely worthy of consideration.

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