GREG FREEMAN - Burnover

A new star is rising in the firmament of American singer-songwriter craft american, we're talking about Greg Freeman, hailing from Vermont, who with his ramshackle vocals and a great deal of talent is making a name for himself as one of the most inspired voices in contemporary country rock.

If the self-produced 2022 debut, "I Looked Out", came across as an exercise in claustrophobic lo-fi country, saturated with feedback and close to the dense, anxious sound of Mount Eerie, the new album "Burnover" marks a more mature approach. It's an open, dynamic work, arranged with an almost orchestral richness, while still keeping its rough, noisy spirit intact.

The backbone remains that of indie rock, with abrasive riffs, while the soul is that of a melancholy alt-country. The real novelty is the expanded instrumentation, which includes piano, saxophone and strings, giving the sound a greater airiness and a more solemn tone.

The change of course is clear from the opener "Point And Shoot", an overwhelming track with energetic guitars and a propulsive rhythm section recalling bands like Built To Spill and Pavement. The harmonica and piano in the background, while the guitars brush against noise, immediately establish the contrast between garage energy and a subtle folk-rock feeling.

Among the best tracks is the standout "Gallic Shrug", with a particularly engaging chorus, elevated by Freeman's falsetto and a delicate yet distorted bed of pedal steel that adds a faintly country touch. It's followed by another successful ballad in a vaguely War On Drugs style, "Burnover", where the guitars are tuned to even more country frequencies and the harmonica lends an authoritative "classic" American rock atmosphere.

"Gulch" is the most vigorous moment, thanks above all to its rough guitars, a true electric jolt that combines a raw forcefulness worthy of Replacements with an almost pop-punk riff. In "Curtain", on the other hand, you can hear strong similarities to the work of MJ Lenderman: the pace is overwhelming thanks to a lovely mix of guitars, a lively accompanying piano and closing horns that brush against jazz, all held together by Freeman's unmistakable vocals.

Compared to the debut, Freeman shifts the focus from solitary personal anguish to broader narratives, creating a record that's a love letter to the truest, most rural America. This is evident on the epic closing track, "Wolf Pine", which recounts the history of the author's adopted region. The song starts subdued and atmospheric, almost slowcore, before exploding in the finale with thunderous riffs that brush against grunge, pounding drums and a wall of sound that serves as a genuine catharsis.

"Burnover" is a record that flows sublimely, with very few weak points, showcasing an artist in a state of grace. Let's hope Freeman can keep delivering at this level: the potential is certainly there.

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28/10/2025