It opens with the soothing “Lauren & I,” where he shows the control in his voice. It is followed by the upbeat and fun “I Remember It All,” as well as the mid-tempo yet nostalgic “Along the Road.”
“Take Me Down” is a tune about slowing down and not taking anything for granted. “First Time” is dedicated to his fiancee, Kelsey, for the lovey dovey portion of the record. An added bonus is hearing his version of the uptempo “Whiskey in the Jar,” which has also been covered by Metallica.
He slows down the pace with the ballad “Risk the Fall,” and he displayed a great deal of soul on “Mercy.” “Ring Tailed Rat” is haunting, while “Care Free Heart” would be a good song choice for a motion picture soundtrack.
He continues with “My Love Goes on,” and “September Sessions” has a bluesy vibe to it. The album closes on a liberating note with the upbeat “Keep on Rolling” and the bittersweet ballad “Wait on Me.”
Most impressive about this collection is that it makes the listener feel like they are in a front row of a Keith Harkin concert. It is authentic, intimate and the recordings are all high quality. On top of it all, Harkin is a remarkable storyteller, where he is able to convey raw emotions through his music.
The Verdict
Overall, Keith Harkin delights on his latest album In The Round. It is superb from start to finish. His songwriting is impressive, coupled with vivid imagery, and his crisp vocals are captivating. His prowess on acoustic guitar is unparalleled. This album garners an A rating.
Keith Harkin’s In The Round is available on Amazon, and on iTunes.
