Feel That by John D. Lamb

You get the impression that “keeping it real” is more important to him than polishing every nuance, and he’s got a crack band backing him up that would do Lucinda Williams proud. With a laid-back, made-in-Detroit drawl, his voice and lyrics invite comparisons to populist songwriters ranging from Mellencamp to Steve Earle, with roots buried in the heart of the country.

Robert Downes, Northern Express Weekly, Traverse City, MI 5/10-07

Here's a computer translation of a review from an altcountry website in the Netherlands:

I’d rather be miserable with you / Than simply happy with someone new.

If that is no beautiful love declaration. To find on Feel That of John D. Lamb. This Michigan originating tale narrator took ten years off to give continuation from his 1996 debut A Novel Day. I do not know that first plate, but Feel That are in every way worth it. Lamb knows with few words the correct things to say. If this is a joke/ I don’t want to hear the punch line, in a song concerning a love which is concluded. With a fraaie voice such as John D. Lamb gladly hear you it, this type songs concerning love. That voice, in this hears you something of Neil Diamond, Garland Jeffreys and Richard Thompson. Toch Lamb, which studied journalism, in the first place songschrijver, are. Beside its occupations as executive artist he also gladly transmits that knowledge on others. He stimulates young artists by organizing show cases and meets monthly with other writers to inspire each other. On Feel That kindest three gitaristen are hear, among which have died in January brother Sal D Agnillo. A short speelduur (32 minutes), but really a must. Reviewer John Gjaltema gave it 4 out of 5 horses.

Below are reviews for his previous CD, A Novel Day:

Lamb is a rock storyteller who weaves his fables from the stuff of everyday life. He fills his tales with characters you know and have probably been at one time or another. And as we all know, in these lives of great ordinariness, extraordinary things happen, or are at least dreamt about…

Lamb's strength as a writer lies in his ability to distill relationships to their bare essence...

Lamb spins a tale of love and woe full of true irony and forlorn humor…

Lamb has given us a slice of life in which we find common ground, but is anything but commonplace…

Thom Jurek, Metro Times Detroit, Michigan

John D. Lamb's resonant voice and upbeat tempos grow more appealing with each listening ... His songs have the kind of down-home flavor, familiarity and humor reminiscent of Larry McMurtry. Even his love songs are delivered with a wink, as in "Che Penzi?," where he laments, "How do you keep your grades so stable/When you drink me under the table…The sound is easy going country with slide guitars, chiming instrumentation and arrangements as inviting as a swinging door.

Nicole M. Robertson/The Oakland Press

…The cascades of sounds illuminate every track as individual moody works of art. A truly positive and moving record.

Scott Baker/ The Delta Collegiate

Singer-songwriter John D. Lamb has spent most of his life in Michigan, but he writes songs as if he's spent his whole life on the road - which, I suppose, isn't surprising considering his busy touring schedule. A tireless performer, Lamb spends quite a bit of time trekking around the state and nearby areas, continuously winning new fans with his brand of Midwestern roots rock. His brand-new CD "A Novel Day" (Schoolkids' Records) demonstrates Lamb's finesse with simple, evocative and catchy song-crafting. The songs range from quiet meditations on broken relationships ("You Threw Me") and deferred dreams ("Matador") to bouncy, countrified pop ("I Want You Bad," "Don't Sound Sound") and straight-up roots rock ("Comin' Undone"). His songs speak with a Hemingway-esque world-weary romanticism, particularly in "Matador," which is something of an informal tribute to Papa.”

Lisa Wexton/Metro Times

John D. Lamb performs solo and with a band. He tours extensively through Michigan other parts Midwest. Lamb was recognized by the Metro Times as Detroit’s "Best Rock Songwriter" and is a winner of WRIF-FM’s Local Riffs contest.

As executive director of the nonprofit organization Springfed Arts, Lamb presents the well-known Lamb’s Retreat for Songwriters. In addition to bringing in some of acoustic music’s top songwriters as faculty members, Lamb has given out over 400 individual songwriting assignments to musicians throughout the U.S.A.

His retreat for poets and writers, the Walloon Writers’ Retreat, shares the reputation for quality and creativity enjoyed by the long-running songwriters’ retreat.

In the early 90’s, Lamb produced and hosted a music-based variety show called Ferndale Tonight on cable television. Whether he’s singing songs with his guitar, interviewing prominent guests or moderating provocative panel discussions in front of live audiences, John manages to entertain.

www.jdlamb.com

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