Search - Clive Gregson :: Happy Hour

The title might be a bit misleading, and Clive Gregson admits it: "It's not happy, and it doesn't last an hour." Enough about what it isn't. What it is is a collection of 13 reflective, often wistful, occasionally melancholic, but invariably beautiful songs. The arrangements are sparse, and Gregson handles all instrumentation and vocals. The acoustic "I Get What I Deserve," with its tone of quiet resignation ("I ask myself, 'How much can one man suffer?' I tell myself, 'I get what I deserve'"), sets the tone for much of what follows. Originally recorded as demos, Gregson's performances have a nice, intimate quality that perfectly suits the material. There is the occasional misstep here. "True Beauty" is unable to avoid its inevitable cliché ("True beauty's not skin deep"). But more often than not, Gregson's imagery is arresting (especially on "Come Home Soon"), personal, and emotionally satisfying. --Percy Keegan