image courtesy of Frank Roszak Promotions

Album Review of Alan Arena: Deceived

Deceived is the latest release from highly-regarded (and very deservedly so) Cape Cod-based singer-songwriter bluesman Alan Arena. Arena’s voice is rich, moderately deep, clear yet bluesy with just a hint of gruffness from time to time. It’s his calling card, one that brings a light pleasantness to his songs and an earnestness to their messages.

Arena is joined on the record by several top musicians on one or more individual songs, but for the better part of the record, his band includes Paul Nelson (guitar), Brad Hallen (bass), Marty Richards (drums), Brooks Milgate (piano/organ), and Stephen Clements (percussion). The album itself is partly an honor to the legacy of the tragically late Nelson, who was an important encourager and collaborator of Arena’s.

Deceived kicks off with the peppy “Raised on Radio,” a bluesy, swinging rocker of a number, one that feels like it would fill a dancefloor in venues ranging from tiny blues joints to large dancehalls. He follows it with “Believe in Yourself,” a slower-paced, soulful crooner that’s sure to uplift those in need of a little encouragement. Then the title track, “Deceived” comes in with some strings support from guest musician Milton Smith.

“Big Black Cat” is another lively number, with organwork punctuating Arena’s seemingly restrained yet enthusiastic vocals, and flashy guitarwork – including but not limited to a solo – providing a vibe that suggests the song might be prone to turning into an extended jam from time to time when performed live. If that’s not the case already, well, I’d recommend it.

The playful “Devil in the Bottle,” the harp-drenched, steady, slow swayer “Mother Earth,” and the jazzy “Speed of Life,” a song that’d seems like it wants to be frantic but is simply too laid-back to be bothered, bring the record to near its conclusion, though there’s a thoroughly engaging, riffy guitar line in “Speed of Life” that belies the song’s chill attitude.

And the disc closer – sort of – is “Hypnotized,” a lively song filled with horns (thanks to the talents of Sax Gordon Beadle) and exuding an almost big band feel.

So did I mean by “sort of”? Well, the record actually concludes with a couple of reduxes. First, track nine is the radio edit of “Believe in Yourself.” Honestly, whether this is your favorite song or not on the record (and if not your absolute favorite, it’s probably one of your faves, ’cause it’s an amazing tune), it’s one of the more likely songs on Deceived to receive airplay. (I’d nominate “Raised on Radio” as the other most-likely.

And then there’s the actual, final album-closer, an instrumental version of the title track, “Deceived.” It’s often cool to end a blues disc on an instrumental. In this case, too, it ends the record on the right note. But it’s not just the instrumentation from track three. Oh, no, not at all! On “Deceived (Instrumental),” Sax Gordon Beadle turns a guitar line into a sax line, and Brooks Milgate’s key-tickling gets prominent treatment, as well, in the absence of lyrics. So yeah, it’s the same song; but no, it’s not. Very cool, indeed!

Looking Ahead

After hearing Deceived, I can’t imagine a venue – large or small – in which I wouldn’t want to hear Alan Arena perform. At the moment, Arena’s website lists three upcoming concerts. Alan Arena & Volume Control are scheduled to perform on Monday, July 20th at the Gardner Ale House in Gardner, MA and on Wednesday, August 12th at The Bull Run in Shirley, MA. The Boston Soul Revue with Alan Arena, meanwhile, is scheduled for 12:00 noon n Sunday, August 23rd at the Marshfield Fair in Marshfield, MA.