Album review by Ian Gilley- Raising the Roof for Raisin the Roof Danny Garrett’s first album delivers a refreshing splash from the past, cannon-balling song after song off of its driving keyboard and gets listeners wet with the tidal wave of its tasty summer jams. He gives the listener a distant memory of Leon Russell but way more modern. He has the folk prowess and demeanor of a young Bob Dylan without all of the heroin. His songs share the same energy and happiness of a more level headed version of the Grateful Dead. Danny is about to embark on a tour to the southwest this June, with his sister Molly Garrett, of Electric Molly who will also release a CD this month. Danny is a local who goes to Towson University, so this is huge news. Cleverly titled, Raisin the Roof, Garrett’s first album is by no means his first exploration into music. He first started playing keyboards in the ninth grade after gaining interest while playing in a piano class. He started jamming with guitarist and vocalist Sam O’Hare and formed a band called Sam & Danny in which they played around the area and formed Hundred Yard Smash (formerly The Close Talkers) and released one original album called Running in Circles on which Danny played keyboards, harmonica, accordion, and also helped write a majority of the songs. His band members started exploring the United States, as young musicians often do, and O’Hare and bassman/producer Will Melones went away to Berkley Music Institute for college which is located in Boston. In their absence, Garrett kept writing songs. Garrett attended community college and started playing with other local bands. Danny Garrett’s newest album, Raisin the Roof employs a range of musicians that Danny has been known to play with including his sister Molly, and members of The Melon Farmers. Raisin the Roof has different musicians on almost every track. O’Hare, and Melones appear on a few songs as well. His album starts with the first single, “Sons and Daughters,” which is an upbeat sing-a-long song. “Sons and Daughters” is about how things aren’t that bad and life is a cycle. We are born, and we have kids, and we live life. It also has a vibe of the apple not falling too far from the tree. Readers would really like this song as an introduction to Danny Garrett, the artist. “Eat My Heart,” a slower, jazzier, gem of a song has only one wish for Garrett’s intended listener and possible former lover: “If you’ve got to eat my heart out/ at least use a napkin/ my blood on your face don’t look so good.” He has the keyboard chops and sense of a classy Stevie Wonder and fills the song out wonderfully with a flute. Garrett uses humor throughout the album to keep listeners giggling to themselves. Garrett is not a one trick pony, however, as the very next song on the album is actually a tear-jerker. It’s called “Traveling Mind.” It is a little slow, and has a beautiful mandolin and slide guitar section that you would hear in the background of a modern country song. It is pulled off way better than you would hear Garth Brooks use it and has way more style to boot. Before you get your spurs and ten gallon hats out of the wardrobe, halt, because this is no rootin’ tootin’ country jamboree. If anything, it is closer to jazz-influenced folk and rock with tastes of reggae and country throughout. The listener finds this out during the sexy, elaborate “If I Didn’t Know Better” which takes place next. This song is full of sound, proven with a range of instruments including but not limited to a Saxophone. The listener would most likely get a buzz from this song that they can ride out throughout the rest of the next song “These Kinds of Friends,” which showcases Garrett’s taste for reggae music, harmonica, and obviously, friendship. “Everybody needs a pal/ I’ve got you and you’ve got me for now, well anyhow” are some lyrics sure to bring the good vibes to the party. The song following the friendship song is a collaboration with Molly Garrett, Danny’s talented sister. “Changing Locks” is a song Garrett told me he “wrote and liked but sucked at singing.” Nobody would do justice to Garrett’s stellar songwriting ability better than his sister, Molly. She wails, belts, and lays it down all at the same time on the track. It is a song about love lost, that manages to seem un-cliché due to the technical excellence in which the Garrett clan pulls it off. He follows up that song with a delicious, blues key song called “That’s Why She’s My Baby” that has lyrics that are guaranteed to make the listener laugh. It is a great comic relief in the album and a great example of Danny Garrett’s ability to shred on the piano and talk to the listener in a close, personal way. The listener then gets a chance to hear Garrett’s only cover song on the album. It is a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Ripple” recorded on a grand piano by Will Melones in Garrett’s bedroom. Molly sings backup vocals on this song about playing other peoples music. Ripple is a great cover choice since its lyrics are a beg for people to do just that. The Garretts do Jerry Garcia’s song total and complete justice and those listeners not on drugs might even like it more. Danny Garrett’s Raisin the Roof stands to be an epic masterpiece of an album, but it has to come to an end eventually. Luckily, the last song on the album, “Nah Nah Nah Take Me Home” is my personal favorite and it will leave a wonderful taste in all listeners’ ear-mouths. It is a journey of a song about Garrett walking in the desert where he comes across Orion and other Gods who talk to him and help him get back home. Bass player Shane Wilson appears in this song and gives his signature reggae bass lines to fill out Garrett’s All Star cast of musicians. This is a call of action to all students of Towson: listen to Danny Garrett’s first solo album, Raisin the Roof and appreciate him before the bigwigs in Hollywood or New York get wind of him. Support your local artists so they can become more than just local. Go and check out Garrett’s album on June 18th when it is released and be sure to check out the single “Sons and Daughters” out now on Doc’s Basement Records. BOTTOM LINE___ Rating: 8.5/10 // Style: Rock, Folk, Jazz// Notable Songs: “Sons and Daughters”, “These Kinds of Friends”, “Nah Nah Nah Take Me Home”// For Listeners Who Like: Randy Newman, Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Frank Zappa// You Might Also Like: Hundred Yard Smash, Electric Molly// Released: June 18th on Doc’s Basement Records.