Songwriters working in Americana have to find a tough balance between influence and innovation, and Dark Tea’s Gary Canino does just that on his self titled debut LP. It’s almost impossible not to conjure Paul Simon and Elliott Smith (or the Lemonhead cover of "Mrs. Robinson") when listening to the album’s first single “Rolling Back The Dial”, but Canino is blessed with an ear for the unconventional, which allows him to forge melodies that are never banal in their deceptive simplicity. This is songwriting at its finest, and a fitting introduction to a truly versatile artist. Dark Tea will be celebrating the release of their forthcoming album at Union Pool on March 22nd – listen to “Rolling Back The Dial” below. – Sunny Betz
