CD Review

About a year ago, an Irish singer-songwriter named Damien Rice came out of nowhere with one of 2003’s most revered records. Combining emotional starkness aboard instrumental flourishes, O, became the album that the late Jeff Buckley might have added to his legend one day.

Trent Dabbs, follows in that mold of minimalist serenity with his debut Quite Often. Refusing to write formula songs, Dabbs takes his brand of celestial folk and makes it float quietly and peacefully aboard lush instruments and humanistic lyrics. Tunes like the acoustic "On Heavy" strike a nerve with its chilling melody, in which Dabbs moans "swerving out of control" aboard hush effects. The artsy folk opener "Abigail" and the experimental "January Lights" dabble in light electronica, while the last tune "The Love Goes" reflects of Radiohead’s Bends era ballads, giving the song a sense of familiarity. The closest Quite Often comes to a rocker is the Beatlesque "Yesterday’s Apology," which marches with an arch pop beat and sounds the bit least uninspired, while some power chord jaunts appear later in the clever "TV Jealousy."

It’s interesting how this Mississippi native provokes a sense of British flavor throughout Quite Often. Who would have guessed Dabbs resides in the country music capital of Nashville. All geographic foundations aside, Quite Often is a compelling debut that hits many sweet spots, proving Dabbs is an artist with a knack for entrancing songwriting.