Although he made a wealth of intriguing music while fronting Karate, Geoff Farina never quite rose to the ranks of the indie-rock elite. Perhaps it was due to the unassuming nature of his songs, which were dominated by a jazz-based guitar style that had little to do with rock in the first place. On the debut by his new band, Farina moves even further from the archetypes of the genre, to the point where one tune is sung partially in Spanish and would sound perfectly normal being played by a street musician in Mexico. The songs on Glorytellers’ debut were written on a cheap flamenco guitar, and as such, there’s less of the plugged-in artistry Farina fans have come to expect. But the melodies are no less inventive; head straight for “Tears Of…,” a beautiful number with shades of early solo Paul Simon or Jim O’Rourke at his most sincere. At first, it seems the album lacks variety, as most of the songs move at the same unhurried pace. On closer inspection, it becomes easier to immerse yourself in the smoky balladry of “Camouflage,” the subtle harmonies and guitar accents of “Exclusive Hurricanes” and the rockabilly shuffle of “Quarantine.” Glorytellers might not appreciably raise Farina’s profile, but it’s well worth a spot in your collection. [www.southern.com]
—Jonathan Cohen
