Wyckham Porteous - Sexanddrinking (2001)

Wyckham Porteous begins this album with the title track, a jazz-oriented spoken word that brings to mind "One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head. The backbeat also recalls "Looking for Clues" by Robert Palmer. It's a funky, disco-era tune that works after a minute or two. From there, "Feel Alright" is a pretty and polished pop/rock track that shows the singer's gritty, rootsy delivery. The song could use a bit of self-editing near its conclusion, though. "Get Happy" could be mistaken for John Mellencamp circa "Rain on the Scarecrow," a moody and somewhat dark blues-rock tune. Porteous carries this momentum into the first highlight, the rowdy Southern rock charm of "The First Time." The lyrics themselves are a cross between Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. "I feel as lucky as a horseshoe/Just about as rich as a Cadillac," he sings. One aspect you instantly notice is the range this musician has. It is something that is very precious if used wisely. A feel-good barroom dance tune is "Better Than I've Ever Been," featuring Dyhan Roberts on vocals. The Dylan-like "Louisiana" has that bleak and sparse sound the legend's Time Out of Mind record always oozes. Another great example of this is the brilliant "Ophelia," complete with the brush strokes of drummer Pat Steward. Taking the tempo up again is "Mighty Drinkers," a song that reeks of a rather tame Springsteen arrangement. But there isn't enough punch in the tune to make it soar, diminishing the attempt instead. Another strange effort is "The Party" where Porteous resembles a piano-inclined Neil Diamond more than Tom Waits. Singer/songwriter is his bread and butter though, especially on the touching "Fall So Deep."