Joe D’Amico Asleep In My Shoes (2011) Track list: 1. Listen To The Summer 2. Asleep In My Shoes 3. Monsters 4. Better Days 5. Listen To The Loons 6. Blind Bird 7. It’s Been So Long 8. White Horse 04:04 9. Manager 03:36 10. Sad Dog 03:33 11. Late Nights (Early Mornings)

I know Joe D’Amico because he’s a member of Mason Porter and that’s one of my favorite bands.  Mason Porter’s music is so good.  I recently got a taste of Joe D’Amico’s solo music endeavor from his Tuesday night residency at The Grape Room this past January.  Hearing D’Amico’s songs live made me excited to hear his new album.  Well, after listening to Asleep In My Shoes by Joe D’Amico I can honestly say that it is a magnificent album.

Asleep In My Shoes shows off Joe D’Amico’s great songwriting skills with so many memorable lyrics. My most favorite lyric can be heard on the title track, “Asleep In My Shoes”, “self destructing 3-4-2-1 of the reasons I’m ugly – I’ll never open my heart — to give or to learn or to simply return the love I’m given.”  D’Amico has a lovely voice and tone that conveys emotion nicely. There is a diverse selection of styles and genres sampled but indie rock is probably the most fitting.  Never underestimate the value of a well placed, harmonized, “ba-da-da” (“Listen To The Summer”), “oow” (“Better Days”), or “la-de-da” (“Listen To The Loons”).  “Blind Bird” is succinct and sweet – and greatly enjoyed.   The last track, “Late Nights (Early Mornings)”, is the only song that reminded me of Mason Porter which is a good thing because this is not a Mason Porter album (no disrespect intended).  Asleep In My Shoes is a wonderfully multilayered album where each listen reveals a new awe-inspiring sound and that’s an amazing feat and a great musical accomplishment.

This album harbors moments of sound reminiscent of The Beatles-esque grandness to more intimate, solo moments often exemplified by Tyler Ramsey (of Band of Horses fame). I only say that with the utmost respect and admiration for all artists involved.  So, yes, I really, really, really like this album!  Thank you, Joe D’Amico (Dan Bower, Bethany Brooks, Chris D’Amico, Brad Hinton, Gary Lebiedzinski, and everyone else who worked on this album), for making my ears smile.

[LISTEN] “Asleep In My Shoes” by Joe D’Amico

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Joe D’Amico’s album release show for Asleep In My Shoes is at 8:00pm on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 at World Cafe Live (Philadelphia, PA) | Tickets: $17/$22 | With: Hezekiah Jones, Up The Chain, and Chris Bathgate.