photo by Carissa Johnson; photo courtesy of Knyvet

Album Review of Adam Sherman Band: Sorrows and Smiles

Adam Sherman is a modern rock ‘n roll crooner. That’s all there is to it. His songs on Sorrows and Smiles are singer-songwriter fare with rock ‘n roll instrumentation and a throwback, ’50s or ’60s teen idol delivery style. Sherman’s voice is rich yet edgy, and it’s compelling to such an extent that choosing whether or not to listen really isn’t a choice, it’s compulsion. The songs – particularly, Adam’s voice – command your attention. And Sherman’s bandmates provide just the right pop-friendly rock ‘n roll sonic backdrop to highlight his vocal talents.

The Adam Sherman Band, appearing on this record, is comprised of Adam Sherman (vocals, guitar), Kelly Jean Knapp (vocals), Peter Hoffman (guitar), Dinty Child (mandolin), Jeff Song (bass), Chris Michaels (drums), and Tom West (keyboards, accordion).

art and design by Adam Sherman; image courtesy of Knyvet

On the Adam Sherman Band’s new album, Sorrows and Smiles, “Everyday Dangers” provides a catchy kickoff. The song’s modest tempo helps contain the exuberant energy when Sherman leaps into the danger descriptor “everyday!” From beginning to end, the song is a bob-along rock journey.

Perhaps the bluesiest song on the record, “Greyhound” reminds me of a bit of a George Thorogood number. It’s an attitude-filled blues-rocker from the point of a literal greyhound. And that only makes the song that much cooler. By the middle of the song, I really do believe Sherman is greyhound.

“Long Fall Down”, next, is the first markedly Americana number on the record, leaning into the soulful crooning that allows Sherman to cross over between the Americana and rock world. I also notice hints of Elvis, notable Adam’s “I… can’t… take… that” gives shades of Elvis’ “I can’t help falling in love with you.”

photo by Michael O’Connor Marotta; photo courtesy of Knyvet

“Talk to You,” next, is a softer, melancholy crooner of a number. It’s followed by “Miles,” with twangy slack guitar strums that catch your attention while sitting atop a rich music bed.

Additionally, raucous howler “Gone Wrong” stands out in contrast with much the rest of the disc, an energetic, guitar riff-filled almost rockabilly-meets-rock number in which Sherman’s voice is at its most insistent. Meanwhile “In the Shadows” is a classic guitar-driven soft rocker that belongs in my collection alongside Martin Briley’s and John Waite’s ’00s/’10s work.

Finally, the record closes with “We’ll Never Know,” a softly-strummed, suitable album-ender. Lyrically and stylistically, the song is quiet and introspective, beginning to end. You know I like it when artists structure their album this way, with a song to settle the listener down calmly to close the record. And, with this thoughtful final song, the Adam Sherman Band does just that.

Simply put, Adam Sherman is an old-school, guitar-driven, soft pop/rock matinee idol type of singer. Sorrows and Smiles is a broad appeal album, one pop and pop-rock fans will enjoy for its tunefulness, while harder rockers will own and enjoy the album but may deny it because it’s too mellow and sentimental to be cool among their crowd. Now, if any of the people I described sounds like you, welcome to the next album you’ll want to add to your collection.

photo by Carissa Johnson; photo courtesy of Knyvet

EP Review of Adam Sherman: Nowhere But Here

Adam Sherman‘s EP Nowhere But Here sounds like a modern collection from a pop singer-songwriter icon. Indeed, that kind of is Sherman, a veteran of the Boston music scene who led A&M recording artists Private Lightning and The Souls.

First song “Gratitude” has kind of an ’80s pop sound, a catchy guitar hook, and a Beatles-reminiscent style, in that it draws structurally and somewhat sonically from the Fab Four while updating it with a lusher, newer pop sound. The harmonies are cool, too, as Sherman is joined by Robin Lane for vocal harmonies not just on this song but throughout Nowhere But Here.

photo by Adam Signore; cover design by Adam Sherman; image courtesy of Knyvet

That Beatles-esque vibe continues into the melancholy “How Hard I Tried.” Vocally, though, Sherman’s voice reaches a little higher, comparable (to me) to Five for Fighting or Savage Garden, drawing a bit on the sound you’d expect from a slow, sad, pleading song from the ’90s or ’00s.

Next, “Torn and Tattered” is a good old-fashioned country/Americana dancehall crooner, backed with the very-country twangs and cries of a lap steel guitar. Unique among this collection, I’m picturing someone in a cowboy hat and boots singing at the front of a classic country music stage. Is there anything sadder – or more old-school country – than “You think that I am strong; I don’t know what you heard; because once a heart is broken, love is just another word”?

“Pure As Yours” mixes Americana and that high ’90s/’00s pop vocal sound, delivering a memorable song that’s soft and sweet throughout, with a sound that feels rich while still being sparse, leaving the focus on the vocals, bringing this strong EP to a pleasant conclusion.

Looking Ahead

If you act quickly, there’s an opportunity to catch a cool upcoming show, as listed on the “Shows” page of Adam’s website. Tomorrow, May 31st, at The Burren in Somerville, MA, you can catch Robin Lane in concert with Adam Sherman opening.