Insomnia – Ryan Edward Kotler (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

If I were to say that “Insomnia” reminded me of early Dylan, it’s not because I’m throwing around the cheap “here’s the new Dylan” line, or even that Ryan Edward Kotler necessarily sounds like him. He’s not mining past glories, and he is certainly not resting on someone else’s laurels. But the song itself does remind me of his Bobness, and for all the right reasons.

Again, not a criticism. In fact, what such a sonic connection says is that here is someone whose music captures those same, now-classic hallmarks—lilting dynamics, powerful lyrics, accessible groove, folk finesse. But given Kolter’s easier-on-the-ear vocals and the addition of soothing, seductive, sweeping strings and a few additional sonic textures, this is nothing if not his own song, and certainly written for the here and now.

It is also a reminder that truth, honesty, and authenticity always win out over forced narratives or self-aggrandizing lyricism, and that less is always more: a song should contain only what it absolutely needs to get the job done; anything else is just excess sonic weight or showboating. There is also a wonderful humility to the lyrics, again something that wins out over boast and ego every time.

So, not the new-Dylan that everyone seems to be still searching for (what’s wrong with the old one?) but certainly someone who will appeal to those who are fans of Mr Zimmerman, especially if the likes of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan holds a special place in your heart.

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