David Mallett ...In The Falling Dark CD

...In the Falling Dark is Dave Mallett's second album for Vanguard Records and eighth album of new original material overall. Like its predecessor, 1993's This Town, it finds the Maine native in Nashville, co-writing most of his songs with others in that songwriting capital. The result is sadly predictable. On his own, Mallett had an individual sensibility that shared some themes with country music; he was interested in farmers and trains and lost love. But his take on them was idiosyncratic. Even though his songwriting partners here are estimable talents including Danny O'Keefe and Hal Ketchum, the process of Nashville songwriting meetings seems to have ruled their efforts. Craftsmanship is never in question, but these are simple story-songs in typical country music mode, seemingly intended to get covers from prominent country music performers rather than to express the songwriter's own point of view. To the extent that Mallett himself peeks through, his characteristic sad-sack mood comes across. But it does so, for example, in "Daddy's Oldsmobile," written with Ketchum, which is a story of a homeless family living in its car told from a child's perspective. It's about as subtle as a sledgehammer. Similarly, "That Was the One," written with Alan Rhody, is one of those one-idea-with-variations Nashville songwriting formula songs: the first verse is about a horse, the second about a car, the third about a girl. Mallett, who co-produced the album, gives his songs attractive folk-rock and country-folk arrangements and sings them sympathetically enough. But the songwriting is a big step down from what he used to do when he lived in Maine and called himself David, instead of Dave, Mallett. ~ William Ruhlmann

Here is another pleasantly produced and well-sung collection of David Mallett's predictable story songs about growing up and feeling out of place. ~ Richard Meyer

All songs written or co-written by Dave Mallett.

Recorded at Suite 2000, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: David Mallett (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica); Steven Sheehan (acoustic guitar, classical guitar, dobro); Larry Chaney (electric guitar, slide guitar); Jay Spell (accordion); Ronnie Godfrey (piano, keyboards); Roy Huskey Jr. (acoustic bass); Dave Francis (electric bass, fretless bass); Kenny Malone (drums, percussion); Larry Atamanuik (drums); Richard Adler (tambourine); Jeff White (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Richard Adler .

Recording information: Suite 2000, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Jim McGuire .

Personnel: Dave Mallett (acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica), Steve Sheehan (acoustic guitar, dobro), Larry Chaney Jr. (electric & slide guitars), Jay Spell (accordion), Ronnie Godfrey (piano, keyboards), Roy Huskey Jr. (acoustic bass), Dave Francis (electric & fretless basses), Kenny Malone (drums, percussion), Larry Atamaniuk (drums), Rich Adler (tambourine), Jeff White (background vocals).