Album Review: Brett Harris 'Up In The Air'

After sharpening his skills performing with The dB’s, whom he accompanied as a guitarist during the band’s 2012 reunion tour, as well as trekking the globe as a member of Big Star’s Third ensemble, Brett Harris truly comes into his own with a release that showcases an artist who has a firm grasp on song craft; blending melodies with purposeful, clever and impactful lyrics delivered by his ethereal, serene vocals.

Due March 4th, Up In The Air takes flight with the bright, infectious guitar riffs and perceptive lyrics of “End of The Rope” “The end of the rope is the perfect place to find/The difference between what you take and leave behind” which is followed by nine more lovingly detailed tunes that recall The Beatles, The Byrds and Nilsson. Beautiful and bittersweet, “Don’t Look Back” responds to heartache with hurt and honesty (“Baby just once grant me this one last request/Don’t look back when you go”), while harmonies, horns and piano make the perfect triad in “Lies” (easily a favorite track) a story of self-discovery strewn with insight (“Seems my minds made up but my heart it feels so hollow the unintended consequence of bitter pills I’ve had to swallow…….I’ve got miles left to go before I get to where I’m going but that grass keeps getting greener and I hear that rooster crowing.”) and a gloriously jazzy interlude that may catch you off guard, but you’ll soon find a welcome, exciting and interesting detour.

With its breezy, soulful summer feel, “Summer Night” deals not with summer love, but with knowing that it’s time to move on while the strings in “Out of The Blue” give the song, about realizing the person you have been looking for is right in front of you, a fairy tale air. Harris employs a hint of bluesy piano on the introspective “High Times” and Spanish like horns on “Rumor,” while the delightfully blissful and folky “Up In The Air” extols the joys of being a free spirit. “Why should I care whatever which way the wind is blowing ‘cause we make our home wherever our feet hit the ground.”

The sound of a storm in “Spanish Moss” sets the scene for a sweeping ending to an album that, as the title and cover art suggest, lifts you with its purposeful stories of journey, love and positivity. It's a glorious disc of celestial pop.

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