Out Into the Snow

With a voice like Simon Joyner’s, it’s no coincidence that the Omaha, Nebraska songwriter prefers to have his music likened to Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt and Smog’s Bill Callahan. It’s also no coincidence that Joyner writes songs heavily dependent on words. His voice will never be more than serviceable at best and when it reaches for a note slightly north of its range, it struggles with a likable humanism that’s very reminiscent of early Leonard Cohen. Joyner isn’t going to dazzle with crafted pop melodies but with his plainspoken honesty. “The Drunken Boat” is an ambitious nine-minute opener that slowly unfolds as the instrumentation grows and the night turns darker. “Last Evening On Earth” almost rocks with its slightly agitated pace and Joyner’s near Neil Young whine challenging the organ. Electric pianos, acoustic guitars, pedal steels, even glockenspiel fill out these eerie, unnerving tunes. “Peace In My Time” and “Roll On” lean towards country.  “Ambulances” uses Van Morrison’s elliptical chugs to find its groove. Joyner has stellar influences and ambitions.