David Brusie - Flyover State

David Brusie
Flyover State (Self-Released, 2008)
Grade: B+

Download: David Brusie - "Flyover State"

Full Disclosure: David Brusie used to write for MFR back when we were newly minted. That doesn't change the fact that this is a pretty tight album.

David Brusie's Flyover State is an album I've been sitting on writing a review on for a couple weeks. I saved it so I could write the review after a long road trip back to Minnesota because almost everything about the album makes me think of distance and the open road.

And, let me tell you, 19 hours in a car later, and I'm digging the hell out of this album.

Immediately when I started spinning Flyover State, I was struck with Brusie's voice. Being a big fan of They Might Be Giants, I'm fairly inclined to grin broadly at anything or one resembling either of the Johns, and Brusie's smooth, clear and moderately nasal voice definitely taps into the TMBG spring of vocal quirks.

The rest of the album doesn't really stand out that much within its ilk, but that's fine. It's a warm album that, in its rolling momentum, recalls the feeling of driving on Midwestern highways past fields and farms, heading somewhere special (or, at least, different). Using mostly guitar, piano, drums and bass, Brusie has a wonderful ability to match the mood of a song to what's going on lyrically, creating a fantastic sense of unity. The ability to present such a strong synthesis between lyrics and music is a really remarkable talent, one that gets overlooked all too often. Pair that with simplistic production, and you've got a great record.

You can pick up Flyover State at CDBaby.

David Brusie MySpace Page

(April Wright)