CatsMelvin’s America’s Beautiful Waltz is the first release from the
Lincoln, Nebraska based performer since 2013’s EP Houston and well worth
the decade long wait. It’s a note of confidence in his material that he
opens the collection with the title song. “America’s Beautiful Waltz”
has a decidedly old-school country music thrust that provides an
appropriately mournful vehicle for CatsMelvin’s reflections on the
country’s thwarted promise. Pedal steel guitar lines layer the
arrangement with that classic “high lonesome sound” that purveyors of
such music are familiar with while tasteful percussion supplies a steady
foundation for the performance. CatsMelvin’s voice has unique qualities.
It sounds frayed and emotional on some lines while, during others, he
sings like a proverbial bird.
Pedal steel returns during “All We Have Is Fear” and it’s a good match
for the song’s stripped down shuffle. He eschews any extended
instrumental breaks, but superior musicianship distinguishes the song
each step of the way. His lyrical acumen is an important aspect of the
album’s success; CatsMelvin definitely addresses the country’s
contemporary mood, but never strips his writing directly from the
headlines. He, instead, writes about modern issues in a timeless way.
“Do You Mind” breaks from the countrified textures of those songs.
CatsMelvin engineers an enormous shift into near-dissonant sound
college, indie rock with an exploratory edge, while still addressing the
same issues that consume the album so far. The final quarter half of the
song breaks new ground as well descending as it does into
quasi-industrial chaos. He makes excellent use of female backing
vocalists prior to the fifth song “Escape in Every Way”, but their
contributions reach a new zenith with this song. This is surprisingly
soulful and CatsMelvin establishes a slightly skewed soulful groove from
the beginning that carries listeners through the entirety of the cut.
He kicks things into a higher gear with the rambunctious up-tempo rock
of “It’s Magic”. It flames to life with a brief snippet of keyboards
before roaring out of the starting blocks. CatsMelvin never lets up for
a second as he tears through another fine set of lyrics. He applies a
slight amount of flange to the introductory guitars of “Marching On”,
but the bulk of the performance takes listeners back to the solid
classic country influences we heard at the album’s beginning. “Whole
World Is Smoking” goes in a strong rock direction with a ribald edginess
in the guitar solos. CatsMelvin hits the gas pedal again and the break
near song’s end before launching into the final lap is a master touch.
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America’s Beautiful Waltz concludes with “Words”. A surprising
theatrical tilt makes its presence felt here as the turgid tempo and
warm distorted guitars give CatsMelvin an excellent platform for his
dramatic vocals. The lyrics are top-notch once again and accompanying
backing singers sweeten an otherwise downcast tune. It’s an effective
closer for a thoroughly satisfying album. CatsMelvin’s America’s
Beautiful Waltz is a stirring return for one of the indie music world’s
most memorable songwriters and performers.