Last time we caught up with Milwaukee’s hometown hero Ethan Keller, he was vowing to either go down in history or go down in flames. Keller continues to delight audiences with his heady blend of rock, folk, soul, funk and a taste of hip-hop, but he’s apparently been tinkering around in the studio again because he just dropped a new single.
One of the things that makes Keller stick out among a sea of up-and-coming singer-songwriters is that his music is handmade and direct. He sings his mind and backs it up with tasteful guitar and skilled arrangements.
Those kind of standout things continue with that new tune, “Lost Dog.” It’s a little more loose and organic than his usual fare, veering close to Neil Young territory with a bit more groove, but the non-intrusive horns soften up the hard edges. Deceptively simple, it takes a few listens to get underneath, always a good indicator that some care was taken in composing the song.
Primo guitar licks, too; that’s always a plus. Ethan Keller delivers another delicious musical Scooby snack.
*** Download “Lost Dog” via Bandcamp ***
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