Andrew Adkins – Troublesome, My Love (2011)

Andrew Adkins is better known for being half of the songwriter/singer duo in psychedelic roots-rock band, Mellow Down Easy. Their last album, “Cosmisutra” has been praised by critics from Rolling Stone, No Depression, Outlaw Magazine as “one of the most original styles in the last decade” and a “breath of fresh air” for the band’s unique sound and mixture of influences. In 2006, Music City publication, The Nashville Scene voted Adkins one of “The Top 3 Local Songwriters in Nashville” (along side Will Hoge and Marcus Hummon). In 2010 after a 75 date U.S. tour with Mellow Down Easy, Andrew decided to take time and head into the studio to begin work on a solo debut Troublesome, My Love. The songs gracing this album touch on troubled love, social empathy, and heartbreaking poetic prose to the quest for everlasting hope. There is no easy and simple way to categorize such cuts as “We Knew It All Along” and “Two Of A Reckless Kind.” There’s soul, blues, rock, roots, and even a tinge of country on those particular cuts, and all at the same time, which makes for an enjoyable musical journey. He also experiements with a folk-ish sound on “If You Can’t Swim (You’ll Probably Drown),” and an out and out love song like “Your Lucky Day.” While it may be tough somewhat to market an artist like Adkins, those that he is able to touch are going to the richer for it. In fact, it doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as you call it good – because it is!