This Dustin Kensrue fellow sure is a talented chap. As the frontman of Thrice he’s released some great albums that combined the heavy and the melodic flawlessly (most notably 2003′s The Artist in the Ambulance). So when Kensrue released his first solo album in 2007 fans were probably expecting something along the lines of Thrice unplugged. Instead, Please Come Home is a fantastic mix of folk, country, and blues that showcases Kensrue’s range as a singer songwriter.
The album gets off to a fast start with the double-time feel of “I Knew You Before.” With drums like a steadily steaming locomotive, the song chugs along over Kensrue’s wonderful little moving baseline guitar work. It is just about as good as a folk-rock song gets. It’s followed up by the beautiful “Pistol.” It’s one of the best love songs of the past couple years. Sporting a country porch feel, complete with harmonica, the song excels with it’s pacing and lyrics.
You’re the girl of my dreams,
and a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true.
Time to lay down my fears,
Honey, I feel so safe around you.
What really carries the track, and the entire album for that matter, is how much soul Kensrue sings with. He sounds less like a heavy rocker from California and more like he was born and raised on a delta in the south. It’s that kind of soulfulness. His voice is so piercing while still having that slight wavering emotionality, making every word carry a deep level of sincerity. The vocals work so delicately and well that it’s easy to forget that this guy can pull off powerful screams for Thrice. The range is borderline absurd, but the warmth of the vocals is what makes each track work.
Please Come Home also allows Kensrue to do more directly spiritual numbers. “Please Come Home” is a modern take on the prodigal son, where a father desperately yearns for his wayward son to return to his love. Spirituality also evident over the hard plucking of “I Believe” and the slow resonating organ on “Blanket of Ghosts.” In fairness, he does give the side of earthly indulgences some time as well on “Blood & Wine.” The song is reminiscent of an up-tempo Johnny Cash tune, dealing hedonism and its slippery slope.
One would be hard pressed to find a better side-project solo album than Please Come Home. It can be appreciated both by Thrice fans and those who would never listen to his heavier tunes. On Please Come Home Kensrue pours out his heart out and the results are some soulful gems.
Review Score: 8.8
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