LABEL: INDEPENDENT
RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 18, 2010

IV is what every independent release should be, an example of simple, profound and beautiful songwriting performed with a feeling of intimacy that few mainstream artists can capture. Listening to LIV transports a listener to their favorite coffee shop without sounding sophomoric or part of a pretentious indie scene. It is beautiful heartfelt music that is supremely enjoyable and while it isn’t perfect it feels like it is only a half step from perfection. This album is simply that good.

This album has the timeless singer/songwriter vibe that brings out images of the great singer-songwriters of past and present that is hard to resist. The acoustic guitar is always spot on rooted somewhere in the beautiful limbo between folk, country and rock without ever straying too far from the middle. The downfalls of LIV are the downfalls of  the singer songwriter genre in the modern music industry, occasionally it just feels slightly off. Modern music is so thick with sound and so impossibly up tempo that is easy to forget what music is at its heart. It is working class, it is minimalist, it is filled with imperfect voices and inspired lyrics.

“My Love” is definitely a love song that fits perfectly into this spring season. It feels perfectly crafted for young love and it is simply impossible not to smile while listening to this track. Lyrically the track is concise without feeling clichéd or overly simple, it just feels inspired. It is a track that is a personal favorite of mine.

“LIV” is a hopelessly optimistic song about the ups and downs of live. It is a track with strong religious overtones without quite crossing the line into being a strictly religious track. It is also the track with one of the more adventurous instrument choices, it has a nice drumming circle vibe but it is just enough. It doesn’t detract at all from the track nor does it feel pretentious in the slightest bit.

“Wrecked” is a great track demonstrating the perfect balance of Hartke. The track has nice religious overtones without being strictly a religious track, it has just enough heartbreak to feel strong but not a track just for the broken hearted. It is a track that feels deeply personal for the listener but also deeply revealing about the artist. It is hard to imagine not being moved by listening to the track that speaks so deeply about the negative and quietly positive power of being broken hearted.

LIV is a rare treat. It is an album by a singer songwriter that on a production level is absolutely perfect. This does not feel like an independent release at all, the sound is rich and though the music at its heart is simple it sounds full and complex. As an artist dAN Hartke makes a listener feel invested in his success, it is hard not to want the man to succeed in whatever way he defines success. The album is at its heart a labor of love from a singer songwriter that comes off perfectly. Needless to say this album is highly recommended.