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Twenty-Five Beloved Primary Songs is the latest in a string of
releases from guitarist Michael Dowdle. The disc is strictly solo
guitar, void of additional instrumental accompaniment. Overall this
lends to a peaceful, quiet tone with a simplistic style.
The CD boasts more than 100 minutes of the relaxing
tunes which cover the spectrum of Primary songs. There’s everything
from “I Am a Child of God” to “Nephi’s Courage” to “Search, Ponder,
and Pray”. The selections generally include less obscure children’s
songs with something recognizable to everyone.
Dowdle sticks with his style of playing on past albums,
and keeps with the traditional melody of each song fairly closely.
This makes the songs easily identifiable, though there are glimmers
of Dowdle’s talent for personal embellishment throughout the songs,
and an increase of this certainly wouldn’t hurt.
The solo guitar aspect seems to lack a bit in dynamics
which made a few songs drag a little bit toward the end of the
album, although for listeners looking for something to relax to
without devoting sole attention to the music, this is right up their
alley.
Favorites of the disc include “He Sent His Son” and
“Families Can Be Together Forever”, though each song is a heartfelt,
touching arrangement of its original counterpart. There isn’t a song
on the album that doesn’t seem to fit, and each flows effectively to
the next.
Twenty-Five Beloved Primary Songs may be Dowdle’s best
CD to date. The combination of effective song selection and sweet,
sincere guitar playing makes this an album of peaceful, reflective
music.
Cory Reese |
