Neal Casal - Anytime Tomorrow (2000)

Neal Casal's Anytime Tomorrow is arguably a slight step back from Basement Dreams, although more slickly produced. Some of the songs follow a predictable trajectory, while others are obvious in their borrowing of other artists' styles. The wistful/worshipful "No One Above You" is vaguely reminiscent of Eric Clapton's "Let It Grow," while other standout tracks are "Oceanview," which floats along with a gentle dream-like Beach Boys quality, and "Just Getting By," which could almost be a Ron Sexsmith number. By the time the excellent "Too Much to Ask" arrives to finish the album, the parlor game of spotting influences is over, and the listener is mindful of a talent worth watching. Perhaps he should cast his net wider than the late '60s and early '70s, however. When Casal abandons the seductive Californian stoner persona and gets experimental, angry, or just plain reckless, as he did on Basement Dreams, something exciting happens. A feeling still persists that this is a talented artist who could really catch fire, and a little bit of arson or anarchy might actually help here.