THE NOISE
The Amazing Things Art Center Natick, MA 8/26/06
Though the room seems too big to fill, folk singer Dan Cloutier starts the night off right with an awfully big sound for just one man. Working his way from slow, eerie ballads to booming acoustic songs you would have to shout over, he plays a feel-good set peppered with humor and crowd interaction. The people around me are smiling, and the entire audience seems to know every word to each one of his songs; the music lends itself to sing-alongs with addictive lines that get you every time. Cloutier proves to be something of a one-man band, playing the slow but beautiful song, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” on the banjo, another incredible song on the electric guitar, and even more songs on the acoustic guitar—all while playing the harmonica and pouring the much that remains of his musical charisma into his rough but honest singing. The encore does not disappoint, getting each and every person in the crowd yelling with him, “What is the soul of a man?” A humble performer, Cloutier proves his musical clout without flaunting it, leaving this audience in good spirits and satisfied.
Though the room seems too big to fill, folk singer Dan Cloutier starts the night off right with an awfully big sound for just one man. Working his way from slow, eerie ballads to booming acoustic songs you would have to shout over, he plays a feel-good set peppered with humor and crowd interaction. The people around me are smiling, and the entire audience seems to know every word to each one of his songs; the music lends itself to sing-alongs with addictive lines that get you every time. Cloutier proves to be something of a one-man band, playing the slow but beautiful song, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” on the banjo, another incredible song on the electric guitar, and even more songs on the acoustic guitar—all while playing the harmonica and pouring the much that remains of his musical charisma into his rough but honest singing. The encore does not disappoint, getting each and every person in the crowd yelling with him, “What is the soul of a man?” A humble performer, Cloutier proves his musical clout without flaunting it, leaving this audience in good spirits and satisfied.
CARTER ALAN (100.7 WZLX FM)
I have listened to your CD not once, but several times. When I say several, I mean like five times already.
I never have time to listen to a new CD five times. That should tell you how much I enjoy it. You connect
on all levels - lyrics, recording quality, winning melodies, choice of instrumentation, tasteful female vocal accompanyment. I have heard so many missteps in artists' "new" CD's over the years that it is noteworthy to comment that you appeared to have a more complete vision of how you wanted this thing to turn out than most artists with their early efforts. It means you've done your homework well.
Favorite tracks for me - When You Love, A Seed in a Bottle (ambitious), Jerusalem, Rain in Atlantic City, The Ballad of Rose in Boston. By the way, your voice has a "40 year old heavy smoker just hitchiked in from Detroit" kind of quality to it. Nice to know you didn't have to do or be any of those things to get it!
