Last night I put on Eoin Shannon’s new album “Every Drunk’s Gotta Story” while sitting in the living room with the lights low. I planned to check a few songs and call it a night. That didn’t happen. The album kept rolling and I just let it.
The opener “Sweetheart Candy Lovin” sets the tone quickly. There’s a jazzy swing to it and Shannon walks into the song with a voice that’s hard to ignore. It’s deep and steady. The kind of voice that makes you stop whatever else you were doing. I actually replayed the hook many times before moving on.
Then “Game Night In Hell”. This one is quieter. It’s like someone telling a story at the end of a long night. The writing is simple but it lands. Just honest lines and a delivery that pulls you in.
I really liked “Bartender”. The female voice joining him here adds something special. Their voices sit together nicely. It’s like a small duet happening across the room. It reminded me of those old lounge recordings where two singers lean into the same microphone.
“Puppetmaster” brings a bit more life into the record. It has a groove that made me tap the table without thinking. After that “Pull Up A Stool” slows everything down again. The piano carries most of the feeling there and Shannon sings it in a way that is calm but personal. One moment that stayed with me was “Free My Soul”. The harmonies in the background were great and the whole track has a gentle rise that works really well.
The album runs through 13 songs and I honestly didn’t feel the urge to skip anything. Some tracks lean more toward jazz which others are softer and reflective. But it all fits together in a relaxed way. So iff I had to point to the heart of this record then it’s Shannon’s voice. That’s what kept me listening. By the time the album finished, the room felt different somehow. I just sat there for a minute before putting something else on. That doesn’t happen often. Love it!!
