This self-titled release is by far and away the closest to perfection any studio project has achieved in a very long time. With every aspect of the production, performance, and choice of material handled by the artist himself, there is a continuity and purity about it that is missing in even the top-selling discs that chart and receive platinum recognition. Vocally, no one can come close to
Intveld
's irreproachable style. His ability to evoke emotion from a song, even those he did not write, is dumbfounding; his version of
Don Gibson
's
"Blue Blue Day"
is evidence of this. As a writer,
is stunning in his clarity and storytelling ability; listen carefully to the earthy tale of
"Kermit Vale."
While he does not consider himself a
country
writer per se, he is quite capable of concocting a mean shuffle and accentuating it with the optimal amount of twang, as exhibited on
"Your Lovin'"
and
"Barely Hangin' On."
His own rendition of his classic hit,
"Cryin' Over You,"
made famous by
Rosie Flores
, also demonstrates
's obvious understanding of
traditional country
music. A noteworthy balladeer,
James Intveld
takes this art form to the highest level. His own
"You Say Goodnight, I'll Say Goodbye"
is not only emotionally evocative, but also intelligent. The entire affair is dedicated to his late brother,
Ricky Intveld
, which makes this, his first
Bear Family
CD, all the more meaningful for
James
and his many fans the world over. As they say, nobody does it better than
; in a perfect world where music and musicians are rewarded for talent, ability, and original creativity, the enticing
Mr. Intveld
would be constantly sitting at number one on all the music charts and this CD would be double or triple platinum at least. ~ Jana Pendragon