Following the release of his 2019 debut record, Ariel Posen has returned with his sophomore studio album, titled ‘Headway‘.
A former member of the Canadian alt-folk outfit The Bros. Landreth, Ariel Posen has made a name for himself despite being so early in his solo career. This latest offering is a sweet blend of blue-eyed soul, country, rock, with his signature slide guitar which has earned him the title of “A modern-day guitar hero”. ‘Headway’ features themes that focus majorly on a failed romantic relationship and his own self-development, with a sound that leans into a variety of tastes. For these reasons, the album does not fail to impress. This new record is a diversion from his first album, How Long, which focused more on his musicianship as a solo artist. He has proven that he has a lot more to offer, not simply as a guitar hero, but also as a singer-songwriter.
The album opens with ‘Heart by Heart‘, a track that features a memorable chorus and clever lyrics, paired alongside his buttery vocals. They sit effortlessly with the guitar licks that we all know and love, a signature feature of Posen’s tracks. Within the first ten seconds, you’ll already be in the groove, and eager to hear more of what he has to bring. Things slide into a more rugged sound in ‘Coming Back‘ as we get a taste of Posen’s developing style, personified through his Mockingbird guitar and signature broadcast pedal. ‘Carry Me Home‘ follows, where we find ourselves in a more mellowed feeling as the artist dives into themes of regret and nostalgia:
“I’m still haunted, by all the mistakes / All the wrong turns that were made / I knew it all along / Take me back to before the good was gone”
Reminiscent of John Mayer’s Stop This Train, we head below the surface and get a glimpse into Posen’s strength as a songwriter and his ability to illuminate the common regrets that the listener shares. Despite its melancholy content, ‘Carry Me Home’ is extremely catchy and would be a perfect addition to your spring afternoon driving playlist. These themes of regret are continued into ‘Nobody Else‘. The moody instrumental vibe aptly matches the lyrics, as Posen speaks of love found and lost. Themes of personal development begin to arise, as the artist explores how he isn’t the person he wants himself to be, nor the person that others want him to be either.
Posen’s Americana influences are displayed in ‘What Are We Doing Here‘ and ‘Big Picture‘. Whilst the hard edge of his guitar ebbs and flows, his tone of voice remains soft. This makes it easy to believe Rolling Stone‘s acclaim: “He comes across like a laidback Springsteen, building an anthemic groove”. Surprisingly, the feeling takes a sharp turn from heavy electric guitars to gentle fingerpicking in ‘It’s You‘. Posen’s guitar playing has been described as of Van Halen playing the ukulele, with a change in style that mimics a folk-stricken blend between The Beatles and John Mark Pantana. The lyrics hinge on the heart of a hopeless romantic, highlighting relational woes that weave into the rest of the album:
“It’s 3 am and you ain’t home yet / But it’s alright, yeah I don’t mind / If you ask me, who I love babe, who I need babe, it’s you”
A change in genre is heard again as ‘I’ll Be Finding You‘ begins, and we get a flavour of laidback reggae. While the reggae creeps in and surely brings a new groove, Posen’s signature slide guitar takes centre stage as we move into ‘I’m Gone‘. Vastly contrasting to previous works, this track maximises Posen’s new-found grit. With just the right amount of fuzz and overdrive, the guitar solo outro delivers the album’s grittiest climax. It is solos like this that make it unsurprising that John Mayer named Posen as one of his favourite guitar players. Posen’s smooth vocals, matched with monstrous guitars, will surely leave you listening along with a stank face.
As the album draws to a close, the penultimate track continues the theme of heartbreak, longing and a relationship that simply didn’t work out. ‘Sometimes You Lie‘ brings a smoother sound and melodies similar to fellow Canadian songwriter David Myles.
And so, we get a glimpse of this new artist through the fresh sounds of this sophomore album. It shares lyrics that speak true to the human experience, an overall beautiful body of work. The only gripe I have is that the lyrics are mainly focused on the longing for a past relationship, which starts to become quite monotonous. However, this drag is curbed by the staggering range of styles and genres presented in this record, which thoroughly keep you on your toes. Though Posen is renowned for his awesome guitar solos, ‘Headway’ has clearly illustrated that he is more than just a guitarist, but also a skilled songwriter with an eclectic taste.
