CD Reviews: The Reverend John Delore – Little John the Conqueror

The Reverend John DeLore is not your typical country crooner. The Wisconsin born poet, songwriter and musician has been active in the New York since relocating to Brooklyn in 2003 and has built a reputation around providing thoughtful roots music with an alternative energy while staying away from cowboy hat nostalgia. His sophomore effort Little John the Conqueror showcases DeLore’s maturation as both a lyricist and melodist behind a backing band of classic Americana sounds. Sonically, the group is firmly grounded in gritty guitars, roadhouse piano, a dynamic rhythm section, and DeLore’s no-nonsense tenor, creating a solid bedrock for the published poet’s weighty lyrics. Like great songwriters such as The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle, DeLore has a knack for using relatable experiences and presenting the ordinary as artful. Take the New York-centric vocal opener "Avenue A" : “Her body is much younger than her movements might suggest, clutching at her breast, eyes distant and dispossessed. / Where she goes when the sun goes down is anybody’s guess. All I know is she wears her loneliness like a wedding dress.” Far from stock country tropes, 12 bar blues, or Nashville’s underestimation of its audience, the songwriter’s keen observational style and sense of place can turn something as common as a love song into something more subtle and ultimately, satisfying. – Jason Bertone