Ballantine, Charlie: Where Is My Mind?

Charlie Ballantine is an Indianapolis based composer/guitarist with a just released third album titled Where Is My Mind?, the follow up to 2016's Providence. That was an impressive effort and his new album is just as good, in fact, I might even enjoy it a little more.

Like the last album Amanda Gardier returns on alto sax as well as flute but there is a different rhythm section this time around with Jesse Wittman on bass and Jay Tibbitts on drums.

This music is difficult to categorize as it combines jazz, Americana, atmospheric rock and when you put it all together I have to say it's very pleasing on the ears. Ballantine uses three guitars; a Fender Telecaster, a 1958 Fender Stratocaster and an acoustic Harmony parlor guitar and all three serve the music nicely. The one two punch of "Real Things" and "Jones" are melodic tunes with a strong leaning towards Americana roots music. The atmospheric guitar and smart use of loops take "Hallways" into a trippier direction. The music builds culminating in a frenzied ending where all the band members join in on the fun. The sentimental country favoured "Telluride" is a nice ballad with some fine bass work and the smooth and silky groove of "Birds" is another fine track with some of Gardier's most melodic sax on the disc. The bluesy guitar work in "Futuretown" has plenty of bite as well as exceptional bass and drums and gives the disc a much needed kick at just the right time. The rest of the album is just as solid.

Where Is My Mind? is an excellent follow up to Providence. Ballantine's fine song craft, musicianship and inherent sense of melody makes a very solid four star release.

Track Listing:
1. Real Things (4:56)
2. Jones (4:48)
3. Hallways (4:55)
4. Where Is My Mind? (6:00)
5. Telluride (4:09)
6. Birds (4:44)
7. Futuretown (2:44)
8. Carissa (3:49)
9. Where Is My Mind? (reprise) (1:09)
10. Wayfaring Stranger (6:59)
11. The Last One (2:03)

Added: November 9th 2017
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1207
Language: english

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