Anthony Neff: Press

Folk and Roots Country sounds that will delight any acoustic music fan. Anthony Neff knows how to write a song that has substance and meaning to each line. There is something special about an artist that chooses to perform his music naturally without all the electronics available to artist today that help mask their true talents and sounds. Chase Your Burden is honest and has a very unique sound that is skillfully presented.
4 Stars

If you’ve been paying any sort of attention, you’ll remember our previous discussion of Mr. Neff via his “Generational X-istential Blues” album just a short couple of years ago. I know I remember Anthony Neff’s sincere voice and knack for marrying the sounds of country, Americana, and folk for his own unique tone that he sets with gusto. This album is even better than the last, picking up from everything he did right there, and peppering it with a new fondness that will have the young and old alike yearning for more. Producer Rob Farris’s wanton use of ½” tape makes this album even more memorable with its rustic, folk appeal that gives it hometown quality with big-budget sound. This is one singer/songwriter that everyone should be following like some fanatical rabid fan.

With the song "Old Friend" (track 3) can performer singer/songrwiter Anthony Neff be called most welcome. Because it had been 2002 when we heard our friend for the first time on the album "Generation X-istential Blues". Like its predecessor, roots/blues, country rock and folk are the basic elements which Anthony Neff uses on his new album "Chase Your Burden". These styles were incorporated very simply in the living room of producer Rob Farris. It's true that this presented technical issues, but the creaking of the floor boards and sound of sleet hitting the window only adds to the recording. Without frills, just like the songs of Anthony Neff, which succeed in splendid tales- superb melodies in an Americana/roots sauce. Twelve original compositions, with Anthony on acoustic guitars and harmonica and willing, expert aid of Scotty Miller (banjo, 12 string electric guitar), Rob Farris (who we still know of the Backsliders) on the keyboards, and the beautiful backing vocals of Kristine Drugan. Originally from West Virginia (born in the city where Hank Williams was discovered dead), Anthony moves himself with this small masterpiece in the slipstream of presents such as Townes Van Zandt, John Prine. The most beautiful compliment of this album I found from Mike Plumbley (Ragamuffin radio), that very strikingly can formulate what this album also meant for me: "Begins with lots of promise and never lets up... Gritty, gutsy rocking with smooth vocal and infectious backbeats... I love the twists and turns of tempo and style on this album... oughtta be a classic." Pearls such as "Only a Dream", "Sweet Revolution", the title number "Chase Your Burden", ("you can't run from your sorrow, there's a darkness before the sun can rise"..splendid!), the blues intro on "Old Friend" (makes me think of Brian Ferry), the guitar picking on "Say Hello To Goodbye", the Little Feat/Doobie Brothers/Sweet Alabama guitar lick of "Fire and the Flame", "Tremble When your Shake" (ode to J.Cash...."statues fall but memories stand"!!!), show you to enjoy really how simple music can and must be. Does "You Should See My Girl", the only up tempo number dissipate the feeling that "Downside" conveys (superb 12 string guitar)? Yes...as "even angels lose their way", how must it then further be with us? The answer of Anthony is significant: "If I give up my memory, can I still keep my dreams?". Superb album, class artist!! * * * *

Anthony Neff - “Chase Your Burden” - The smooth and sparce vocals of Anthony Neff satisfy my love for laid back, uncomplicated and listener friendly tunes. Anthony delivers some touching and insightful lyrics and sweet melodies on his 2nd full release of inspiring folk balladesque tunes. A serene, eclectic feeling surrounded the room as I listened to a beautiful serenade of moody and introspective songs that vaguely…(forgive me…but I gotta say it…) made me think…this must be what Elvis would sound like if he was chilling with his guitar player singing some folkie-jams. : ) Totally dig the raw acoustic cuts!

There's something to be said about country folk (the music style, not the people). Anthony Neff says it all with his guitar and voice. He mixes Americana, folk, country rock and the blues into the fold and accomplishes more than a Little Feat. He grabs you by the neck and then slides his arm over your shoulder in an embrace just to have you sit down and listen to his songs, which leave you feeling warm and sentimental. "Excuses for a Friend" gives you no excuse and has a hook to die for.

3.5 Stars

I have to be in the right mood to enjoy a largely blues album. When it's a mixture of country and blues, the mood can be even more elusive. But when I popped Anthony Neff's offering into my CD player and settled in for a listen with my cup of coffee, I was almost immediately drawn in.

Maybe it was the catchy and clever lyrics on the opening title track...smart and funny, which brought a smile to my lips, and if I'd been standing would have put a bounce in my step. Or maybe it was the second track, "Porchlight", a somber ballad that has an almost vague beauty, sneaking up on tip toes to surprise you with the strong impression it makes.

The production quality is quite nice, professional, but it imparts a warmth and coziness that perfectly suits the songs. It's especially nice on the ballads. You feel like Anthony's singing the song just for you.

Anthony's got a nice voice, perfectly suited to both the soft ballads and rollicking country blues ditties he's chosen for his ten song release. It tumbles along nicely on the up tempo "Excuses For A Friend" and floats on the more temperate "Love To Burn" and the gently pretty "Fake Love".

One of the nicer, and they're all pretty nice, aspects of the album is the genuine and often clever choice of lyrics. They're more noticeable on the less blues heavy tracks, where the music takes a leading role, but they shine throughout, for the most part.

Add some nice horn to the guitar, bass and drums and you get a memorable sound on "Don't Wanna Cry No More". "Enemy" is a rocker, with nice vocals and tempo. And you can't help but smile at the silly simplicity of "Oh My My".

This isn't a disc I'll listen to all the time, but it is one I'll recommend to friends who like blues and blues country. And I'm sure I'll pluck it from my ever expanding collection from time to time to listen to my favorites, especially the gorgeous closer, "Buckskin Stallion Blues", a gentle blues ballad with sad, somber vocals.

Favorite Tracks:
#1 | Generation X-istential Blues
#3 | Excuses For A Friend
#7 | Love To Burn
#10 | Buckskin Stallion Blues

You could call Anthony Neff's Generation X-istential Blues a turf-friendly release: It's neither earth-shattering nor ground-breaking. I hope that doesn't sound overly flippant because the album is also friendly to the ears, a solid collection of songs, nine originals and one cover, that once upon a time it would have been described as folk rock. In the end, it is what it is (and here I move from possible flippancy to attempted omniscience): an album created by a guy who decides to make a record for the same simple reason that he plays out a couple times a month--namely, it's something that he really likes to do. I'm thinking that when the day-job whistle blows, Neff heads toward a guitar instead of the television or the golf course.Neff typically plays solo at area clubs and coffeehouses, so it's a minor revelation to hear his songs presented in full-band arrangements, the fleshing out done with the help of some familiar names in the Triangle roots-rock community. Co-producers Kenny Roby and Rob Farris contribute guitar and keyboards, respectively, as well as backing vocals. Also on hand are two of Roby's former 6 String Drag mates, drummer Ray Duffey and ace guitarman Scott Miller, while Roger Gupton and Jeff Hart do a split shift on bass. There are modest touches throughout that both reflect the album's modest ambitions and give it some nice texture, be it the horns on the jumpy "Don't Wanna Cry No More" or Kurt Fortmeyer's harmonica on an album-closing version of Townes Van Zandt's "Buckskin Stallion Blues." "Fake Love" starts out sounding a little like Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man" in slow motion, and you half-expect it to launch into that song's big chorus--not that there'd be anything wrong with that--but it stays grounded by the weight of the two heavy hearts within.
The best cut is the title track, which, half Band and half Little Feat, kicks off the album in rousing fashion and chronicles the eternal struggle of coins vs. conscience and silver vs. soul. But you just know that Anthony Neff isn't in it for the money. He's in it for the tunes.

April 2003, Vol. VII

Anthony Neff - Generation X-istential Blues

by Mark Duncan

This CD is so much fun. Lots of anti-corporate sentiment for you fans of "Office Space" and those who have been downsized (like me!). Anthony's voice is powerful and emotive and when added to his skills as a guitarist, he comes off as a seasoned performer with a great shot at being successful. Some might call his style "alt-country" and they would be correct but I feel like it's much more than that. Anthony evokes stark imagery with his lyrical content and the listener cannot help but be drawn in.
Great work Anthony.

Anthony Neff seems to have all the pieces fitting together here. The songwriting is solid, the production is slick, and the vocals are smooth at times, at other times a bit rough. The songs on Neff's CD flow with a great simplicity which makes this a CD well worth the effort. The style here has been attempted before, but not always to the highest of standards. This CD does come complete with some surprises. "Oh My My" is one of the great surprises , it could have as easily been recorded by John Prine as Neff. Anthony pulls it off, keeping the music and vocals basic which this song deserves.

This project takes us on a trek through the world of "Americana" music and all it engulfs. From roots blues to country-rock and folk. The songs are well crafted, even if the style has been heard before, Neff brings a natural ease to a collection of songs that deserve attention. "Fake Love" is a wonderful folk "story" that sends you on a journey of lost love and lost hope as a couple have been drifting apart.

Neff even pays homage to one of the great songwriters of the modern age. "Buckskin Stallion Blues" , a Townes Van Zandt classic was treated here with great class and style. Anthony Neff is a songwriter himself that deserves recognition, as he can hold his own with any songwriter today, and even with some of the greats of the past. He weaves his thoughts and emotions in a way that forces you to turn it up a bit louder and escape in the lyrics. A great effort, and makes me wonder what is coming next from Neff.

5 stars out of 6 (Excellent, a nice choice)
-Rikk Matheson