ALBUM REVIEW: SHANE PALKO’S “GOOD TIMES”
2012 wraps up with a new release by acoustic singer-songwriter Shane Palko. Palko, a young twenty-something from southeastern Pennsylvania, teamed up with a diverse and talented group of friends, family members, and industry professionals to deliver his fourth LP “Good Times” just in time for the holiday season.
Marked by a fresh and contemporary sound courtesy of his collaboration with Don Grossinger, the album showcases a high level of finesse and attention to detail. According to Palko, the album was written and recorded during a time of heavy caffeine intake, very few hours of sleep, and long hours of downtime with fellow friends and musicians from the Newark area, many of whose talents were put to use throughout the record.
Upon first listen, “Good Times” comes off as surprisingly profound and equally mature; the songs held together by a subtle, introspective lyrical thread. This reveals not just an overarching theme, but also an emerging image of the protagonist whose inner turmoil, doubt, and angst seem to be stripped away with the passing of every composition. In turn, resignation, regret, and worry recounted in the past tense, give way progressively to an assertion of hope verbalized in the future tense. Themes such as the constancy found in change, the fleeting nature of life, and the passing of time are all invoked and explored through motifs that include traveling birds, along with examples of ephemera mounted on shelves and an explicit concession to the mutable nature of all things. The album’s lyrics repeatedly wax nostalgic on these subjects, as seen on the opening track: “Carolina wren, welcome home again,” and ” you are still the same” from the closing ballad.
On the track “Ugly Coat,” we come across a keen and honest sense of emotional insight, as Palko seems to surrender himself to life as it unfolds in front of him, and begins to reflect on the beauty that’s derived from its inherent frailty. From a musical aspect, the tracks are catchy, with many cameos that lend the album an approachable quality that matches the intimate nature of the lyrics. A couple of the songs, however, may perhaps come off as fillers, adding little to the album’s overall vision. Notwithstanding those more excessive numbers, overall, the compositions, lyrics, and recording process appear to have been handled with care and attention and are successful in painting the portrait of a young veteran undergoing some intricate and personal explorations. In the end, when boiled down to basics, therein lie the album’s strengths: an approachability built on a foundation of honest storytelling, that’s for the most part relatable.