Brett Dennen is So Much More

As the end drew near on an amazing episode of "House" entitled "Family", a song started playing which is typical in most episodes of "House". I heard a solo acoustic guitar followed by a voice with a nasal quality that sounded oddly familiar, much like Tracy Chapman but clearly it's was not her. I heard the lyrics;

"There ain’t no reason things are this way, it’s how they always been and they intend to stay, I can't explain why we live this way, we do it everyday." Brett Dennen - Lyrics

A few more lines into the song and I was hooked, feeling myself being dragged along like I was connected to a trolling line on the back of a fishing boat.

The episode of "House" ended and my quest began to find out who was singing and how I could get that song. The next morning with a little help from my buddy "The Finn" I found that song, "Ain't No Reason" by a twenty six year old, boyish looking folk singer named Brett Dennen, capped with fiery red hair. Never heard of the kid. Only minutes after downloading "Ain't No Reason" I was in neck deep, hanging on every word. The line about "wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets" brought to mind the poignant lyric writing of Bob Dylan.

"People walk around pushing back their debts, wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets, talking 'bout nothing, not thinking 'bout death. Every little heartbeat, every little breath." Brett Dennen - Lyrics

I wore this song out over the days that followed. I listened to the short iTines samples of "So Much More" Dennen's new album, deciding to take the plunge and order the CD. I found Brett Dennen's sound refreshingly original with an understated charm. I'm an old school CD guy when it comes to enjoying the complete album experience. I love downloads for the quick fix and for buying single cuts, I prefer to own the physical CD. I'll offer a deeper review on the entire album after a few good listens.

"Ain't No Reason" is well worth a qualified listen, especially with the lyrics in view. This song has credible life beyond that episode of "House", which is impressive. There's a lot of music that hits you when the visuals are present but then has something to be desired beyond the moment. This song is just the opposite. I discovered "Ain't No Reason" via the hit medical drama "House", but Brett Dennen offers so much more than that, so much more.

"Rarely does music come along so unadorned, so pure in spirit, and so eloquently written." Chris Douridas. KCRW

Comments

[katrina]

Duuuuuuude. I had no idea you were a "House" fan, too. You should have told me. We could have bonded.

I read recently that there will be a House soundtrack released sometime over the summer--will be interesting to see which tracks they pull for it. The producers and music supervisor do a good job pulling from all sorts of genres for that show. Even better than the "Grey's Anatomy" people, I think, because they're so much more varied in their selections.

[Sindy]

Oh yeah. He is good.

And he's in my neck of the woods with John Mayer when I'll be attending a wedding in the Pacific Northwest. Figures.

Thanks for sharing!

[Mr. Besilly]

Bummer in the summer Sindy. That's going to be an amazing show. John Mayer is the hot item right now.