This is the kind of album that gets you excited about making music again. The whole record has a backdrop of interesting tones. There are digital guitar flybys, singing saws, and disjointed dueling drums. These guys have fun making their noise, and it shows.
The Beauty Realm is the wild idea of Shreveport local Cliff Smeltzer. This up-and-coming songwriter’s quavery voice reminds me of a mix between Neil Young and the Danielson Family. He has been writing songs under this moniker for quite a while but “Beauty Realm” is the first major full-length release, and it was birthed in a beautiful, spontaneous way. Basically, he brought a collection of songs to good friend and multi-instrumentalist, Jerry Lee II. They got the songs to a comfortable point and then finished the job over several months at Foxtrot Studios in downtown Shreveport. Between the two of them, they played almost every instrument and part on the album.
McAdams strummed out the acoustics, doubled the vocals, sang the harmonies, and produced the parts as a whole. Lee was set loose fleshing out the backdrop, exploring hidden corners and adding sauce to the sandwich. With a little help from house engineer Steve Sullivan they were able to wrangle the beast into a very listenable, mature album that represents our region well. It has a deep spiritualism and exhibits the artist’s faith at many points, but also maintains a healthy silliness and humility that is necessary for enjoyment.
You really ought to give it a listen and explore it for yourself. You can pick up a copy at local record store Day Old Blues on Kings Hwy or go directly to the artists website at
facebook.com/JasperMcadamsandthebeautyrealm.
Keep listening.