Andrew Gabbard - Homemade (2021) [Hi-Res]

A staple talent of the Ohio rock scene for more than a decade, Andrew Gabbard first made his name as the guitarist and vocalist for the Cincinnati garage rock powerhouse Thee Shams before co-founding the prolific and critically celebrated Buffalo Killers. Now, while simultaneously serving as one half of the sibling duo Gabbard Brothers and performing as the touring guitarist for The Black Keys, Gabbard has announced the release of Homemade, his first solo LP.

Hailing from a small town in rural southwestern Ohio, Gabbard’s brand of lush and colorful songwriting both proudly embraces and completely transcends his humble, midwestern origin. Gabbard’s songs often imbue a straightforward yet immensely sophisticated craftsmanship that somehow manages to reflect the organic simplicity of homespun Americana while seamlessly voyaging into fully-realised psychedelia. This fascinating stylistic dialogue is on display throughout Homemade, a record that demonstrates Gabbard’s remarkable talent for weaving tastefully-sewn musical threads in and out of richly diverse tonal textures and vibrant lyrical themes.

While Gabbard’s compositional chops are instantly apparent, his practical talent as an unbridled multi-instrumentalist is likewise staggering, with the songwriter himself masterfully performing all the duties of drummer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, and vocalist throughout Homemade. Songs like “Jade Bonsai Garden” and “Mrs. Fitz” give emphasis to this dynamic performative arm-flex, bringing to mind the absurdly gifted all-in-one virtuosity of Paul McCartney or the late Emitt Rhodes, whose timeless “Promises I’ve Made” closes out the album’s sequence in pitch-perfect homage.

Described as “a little bit Neil Young, a little bit John Lennon, and a little bit Yoshimi-era Flaming Lips” (Shindig!), Homemade certainly gives an occasional wink to its musical forebears. On the album’s opening track, “Wake Up, Brother,” Gabbard assumes the role of an uplifting spiritual liberator, reassuring us of humanity’s collective resilience in the aftermath of 2020 and offering words of transcendent, loving affirmation toward the future. With the scathing “Red Bear,” Gabbard issues an indictment of America’s historical violence toward indigenous cultures, reminding his audience to “remember where you’re standing.”