The Long Path”, journeyman singer-songwriter-guitarist Philip Vandermost’s second album, is a bit of an oxymoron of a title, as the whole record deals with the finite-ness of life, the passing of time and how fleeting it is. In short, the main theme of The Long Path is that LIFE IS SHORT, so enjoy it and make the most of it before it passes you by.

The record kicks off with the anthemic, chiming guitars that introduce “A New Way”, a song about rebirth and discovery. This song sets the tone of the record lyrically, but also musically – it rocks, much harder than Vandermost’s last effort, “Automatic August”. Where that album found him exploring pop soundscapes to the tune of someone else’s lyrics, this album is Vandermost going for broke, as he sings on “Trying Again”, “….going for it like there’s nothing left to lose…” – writing all the lyrics, singing and playing with an intensity to match the album’s weightier themes of time – both the possibilities it brings with it and the damage it leaves in it’s wake.

“Alone”, a tale of a spurned lover, poses the question “…is it really love or just the fear to be alone….”?. “Barefoot Love”, a lovely solo acoustic number, comes as a sigh of relief in the middle of this electric maelstrom. Vandermost’s last record established his bona fides as a great guitar player, and this album ups the ante, with tasteful licks and flourishes that enhance the songs without overwhelming them. The title track starts as a breezy pop tune with a catchy chorus, before it breaks down into a nice jam, building to a huge crescendo before going back to the main motif – at over 7 minutes long, it’s the centerpiece of the album.

“Miles to Go”, a Crazy Horse-style romp with a great hook, leads into “All We Have”, a bluesy slice of arena rock that returns to the album’s central theme, “…all we have is now…”. “Remember” is a beautiful country-rock song with a soaring melody that spotlights Philip Vandermost, the singer. This album also finds Vandermost recording with a core rhythm section of Nick Hoffman, a powerhouse drummer who always keeps things in the groove, and bassist Scott VanKaenel.

Creatively, “The Long Path” is a big step forward for Vandermost since his last record. Here he makes good on the promise he showed on “Automatic August” – as a songwriter, singer, lyricist, bandleader and musician. But, as with any great album, it’s all about the songs, and this record has a batch of great ones that speak to a universal truth – life may be a Long Path in the end, but it never feels that way. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of Philip Vandermost’s long path as an artist.

 

      



      


The new album, produced by Andrew Alekel (Weezer, Matt Costa, No Doubt, Foo Fighters)