Singer/songwriter
Martin Sexton blends passion similar to
Bruce Springsteen with the raucous excitement of
Jeff Buckley and the abrasive wordplay of
Jackson Browne and
Living Colour's
Corey Glover. On his sophomore effort, 2000's
Wonder Bar, the Boston-bred falsetto cues up his thick, gruff vocals for a soul-slicker that is quite genuine. Again,
Sexton plays with genre-specific hums of roots rock, folk, country, blues, and R&B, and the initial sound on
Wonder Bar is solid. The 11-track song list soars with humorous emotions; songs such as "Hallelujah" and "Things You Do to Me" showcase such free-spirited rock & roll.
Sexton, however, is a love sucker. Like his crooning counterparts (
Ryan Adams, David Gray),
Sexton plays into the heart of things, reaching for the deepest mystery and sweetest piece. Songs such as "Elephant's Memory" and "She Cries and Sings" reveal his once broken heart and the mending process. Part of
Sexton's appeal is his natural blending of moods and
Wonder Bar shines throughout many shades of feeling. It's unpretentious and the album's namesake indicates
Sexton's appreciation for the simple things; most of the record's songs were written in a pizza parlor of the same name in Worcester, MA. It's as basic as that, for
Sexton is one earnest individual and
Wonder Bar illustrates his playful use of traditional sides of American music. ~ MacKenzie Wilson