Review Summary: "Long Long Journey" is well played, well sung and a heartfelt album. It is a tad too long and quite a few listeners might have a problem listening to it in one go.
It is quite long way back from the time that “Vanguard” and “Elektra” records ruled the world of folk music in the mid-Sixties. Just a single instrument (usually an acoustic guitar) and a voice. All depending on whether you can handle that instrument had a good voice, and new your way with a lyrics. Sounds simple, put it is usually the simple things that are most complicated to carry out, particularly in music. What you all need is a healthy dose of courage to go in front of an audience or into a studio to record your music. Artists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Judy Collins and scores of others at that time had what it takes to do something like that. In all respects.
But even such talented people as mentioned, had it a bit easier then. The musical scene in general and the tastes of the audiences weren’t so demanding, nor were the studio and concert accessories so advanced today. With all that is available in that respect today, and what range of musical choices are available today, it probably takes even greater courage to step into the studio or on a stage with just your guitar and voice. In that respect, Seattle singer/songwriter Deb Montgomery’s obviously got it. And her album Long, Long Journey shows it. She certainly has a strong melodious voice and knows her way around the guitar. What is even more important for an artist like her, and judging by her lyrics, she is passionate about what she wants to put across and can transfer it into words. In today’s overall atmosphere of indifference, it is always refreshing to hear somebody who cares about something more than just themselves and who sing about something that can just be labeled ‘my pain’.
So far so good. But then we come to a problem. All those ‘old’ singer/songwriter albums rarely ran over thirty minutes, usually less. Even when somebody has an important message, no matter how good the voice is, and no matter how good the guitar accompaniment is (after all, it is just there as accompaniment), how long can you listen to such an album? Deb here gives us 16 songs, some running quite over the four-minute mark, and only ‘Awake’ having a refreshing change for a guitar to a piano. And no matter how much you can listen to a “person with a message”, there is a limit how much you can take of this music in one take. And it took me a bit too much to say that this album is just too long. Still, a good effort, no matter what.
