The stunning musical eclecticism of David Anthony Zee returns with a formerly “lost,” newly released and remastered album, Suitcase by the Door. A host of softer songs that didn’t quite make the ‘50s-rock-leaning album Can’t Sit Still, the music of Suitcase by the Door is lighter, folkier, acoustically driven, and more emotionally contemplative. Ready for another dose of the incredibly creative David Anthony Zee (who is in no way related to the gaggle of David Zees currently existing on the internet, a condition prompting the addition of David’s middle name)? Let’s listen, and hit the highlights.
Wait. Who does what (besides David Anthony Zee)?
Percussion – Derrick Jordan and Jimmy Brink
Flute – David E. Smith
Slide Guitar – Jim Seechuk
Guest Vocalists – Karyn Oliver, Cara Costantini, Kathleen Pemble, and Michael Shacoshis
“The Super Bowl Party Choir” – Matt Lehr, Crystal Bosserman, Roger Frissora, Larry Dennis, Nadine, and Kayla
Listening, and talking about it (i.e., hitting the highlights).
Suitcase by the Door begins with “Stay with Me (for Crystal).” An ode to David’s “2000’s girlfriend,” “Stay with Me” is a beautiful acoustic number (primarily guitar and piano) featuring a softer utilization of David’s voice. This is a slower song with an immediately catchy chorus – it features a clever, very brief, and slightly darker chord change that may imply those rare instances of emotional struggle. Great song, and one I’ll be whistling long after it’s over.
“The Old Folkies Home,” with harmonica and acoustic guitar, tells the story of folk singers playing folk, perhaps annoyingly, on every corner, at every bar, in every potential locale – and unfortunately, there is no escape. Of course, that’s only bad news for any perturbed, intolerant listeners. For the perpetually inspired players, the artists, that pervasiveness is a testament to their tenacity.
“Children of Conflict” is inspired by a radio program detailing the surprising bond between two children harboring historically conflicting ideologies – one Palestinian, and one Israeli. And this bond, this attempt at generational reconciliation, was the work of tireless nonprofit, Seeds for Peace. David was so moved by this story, by this concerted effort to diminish a deeply rooted, almost DNA-infused hatred, he created this floating, inspirational piece.
“Children of conflict came from both sides
Gathered together without knowing why
Knowing the sorrow that time can’t erase
And the tears on the enemy’s face.”
“Johnna Knows,” David’s favorite track, is, according to the artist, “a composite of actual women from my past, but not one in particular. The name came randomly from an actual applying tenant at my rental room in Baltimore (I never actually met her).” In this darker, more percussive track, “Johnna Knows” imagines the life of said composite, and inserts us so convincingly into her speculated trials and tribulations.
We reviewed “The Door” quite vigorously in a previous review, and our opinion still stands (so, yes, it’s very much okay to check it out).
“The Funny Little Organ” stars an instrument that could be either an accordion, or the song’s slightly silly subject: the funny little organ. This is nearly an Irish jig; it tells a story, demands a dance, and revels in a loud, convivial space where the beer flows, and the laughs never cease.
“In a Dark Room” is a lower rumbling piano detailing a fraught attempt to contact a former lover forever passed on. It’s a head-bopping excursion that, as much as it entreats ominous powers, makes one shake and shimmy in a dance-along trance.
Album closer “The Tap Root Tree” immediately reminds me of Jimmy Buffet – its tropical percussion, its strumming of a sun-reflecting acoustic guitar, and a catchy chorus that demands a collective calling out. And that undeniable need to sing along? It’s captured here as other voices weave themselves throughout the chorus in unusual times, lingering after the chorus is spent, and inserting themselves to undo the refrain’s dissipation. A great, memorable closer that I’m still currently humming.
But is it good?
Dear David Anthony Zee,
Never lose another album AGAIN! Yes, there were reasons for its delay, but this music is far too good to hide or hold on to. It’s a master folksman making his mark, telling his story, and reflecting on – or reinventing – his life. It’s music that’s lived in, that runs on deep feeling, or spins a smile-cracking yarn. It’s music from a person and for the people. It’s the music of David Anthony Zee, and therefore, it’s both relatable and an adventure. Recommended (as always).
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BELOW: Listen to David Anthony Zee and check him out on Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. Please support David Anthony Zee by visiting his website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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