REVIEW: David Broza - Second Street

by David Levine

One of the intersting things about David Broza is that he has poets supplying his lyrics. Another is that he's an Isreali turned New Yorker with an ear for the Mediterranean.

David Broza was raised in Spain during Franco's fasciast reign. After listening to the folk/rock greats Bob, Neil and Joni, Broza started to listen to Flamenco protest songs on the streets of Madrid. Trading his electric guitar for a classical one, Mr Broza began to create his new sound.

One listen to his new release, Second Street on November records, and you will be happily suprised at the different flavors to be sampled on the disc. If you don't like one song, just wait, because the next one won't be the same. When A Man Holds A Woman(84k .au) is a funky pop tune; Macha(122k .au) dances a Latin groove; Chileno Boys(179k .au) features a heavy flamenco vibe; and The Art of Losing(182k .au) finds its home in the country. The variety here is a big plus.

By his own admission, Broza is not a great lyricist, but luckily for us he has an ear for good poetry. Since he taught at Bennington, he also has access to poetic talent. Since not every poem fits into every song form, he had to find poets willing to work with him as he shaped the poems to fit the music. The result is superior lyric writing--a rare thing and a pleasant suprise. Look at the lyrics of Riding Car Top Down and Chileno Boys for a taste of the unusual way words are juxtoposed. Not your everyday lyrics.

Another original touch is his use of the classical guitar. It adds a smoothness not often heard in pop records(except Al Dimeola's.) This sound definitely separates Mr. Broza from other folk artists.

For all of the things above that set David Broza apart from the crowd, it seems, as I listen, that I have heard these songs before. I kept thinking, "Oh, that's his Springstein tune; this is his Billy Joel." In fact I find Billy Joel the closest you can come in vocal and melodic style to David Broza's work. Billy's sold a few records, David could be in much worse company.

Also, I reallu dig David's attitude about playing music. He says he'll play anywhere, anytime. "I wouldn't mind playing in an elevator. As long as you'll give me seven floors to sing my damn thing!" I think that's pretty cool, considering most pop musicians of today won't put down the song for less than a few hundred people and a few thousand dollars. This guy is obviously from a different era. One where musicians play because the love it. If you don't dig it, don't do it, right?

This brings me to a last point. I'm not a fan of telling artists what they should be doing, but I think, as with the other two records from the November label reviewed in this issue, David Broza's Second Street is a little too safe. The songs are a too pat. I kept waiting for something to suprise me melodically, but that moment never came. Offerings from The Syrens and Storyville also failed to make me sit up and cock my head sideways. It seems the November label would benefit from a little risk-taking.

In the final analysis though, David Broza is worth a listen. Put on the disc, snuggle up with your significant one and get romantic.

Back to November Records Page.