NORMAN — “Beauty in the Struggle”
Shane Henry
(independent) 2010
Central Oklahoma’s Shane Henry, a well-known presence on the local bar and club scene, has just released what I believe is one of the best albums recorded by an Oklahoma artist in quite awhile.
Henry, in case you weren’t aware, is a blue-eyed soul singer who also slings a pretty mean electric guitar.
Building up a following over the past 10 years or so — particularly in Norman and Oklahoma City — Henry, along with his musical companion Maggie McClure, had released an album a couple of years ago called “Deliverance.” And while it was good, his recently released “Beauty in the Struggle” is terrific.
This guy is inspired by everyone from Stevie Wonder to John Lennon to Marvin Gaye to John Mayer. Indeed, those and many other influences are here.
Recorded at Upstairs Productions in Oklahoma City and co-produced by Henry and Jeff Silbar, “Beauty in the Struggle” kicks off with “Love Anyway,” a modern adult-alternative-sounding tune that helps things get warmed up.
If you dig smooth pop-rock with blues-guitar overtones, “If You Don’t Need My Love” is the groovy ditty you’re looking for.
Henry’s power-pop sensibilities come through during the vocal bridge on “Try To Forget Me” right before a short and sweet blues-guitar break that shows off his admiration of legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy.
A soap opera has already picked up the powerful ballad “Crying for Change,” a song where Henry’s voice gets to stretch along with those guitar strings.
“Now Or Never” is good, although it is not representative of Henry’s vocal or guitar-playing strengths.
But a folky, acoustic track like “Portland” is a bittersweet song about a girl leaving home for rainier climes in Oregon: “Her life is as sweet as a cinnamon bun / And everything’s new under the sun.” Think “She’s Leaving Home” by The Beatles, another major influence for Henry.
And just as you think Henry is on the backporch, pickin’ and grinnin’, he comes back into the club and takes a Lenny Kravitz-esque pose on a sexy song like “Skin to Skin.” This is a fun song and one that is bound to get him attention.
The life-affirming “Believe In Yourself” takes a bit of gospel and soul mixed with healthy doses of pop to create a powerful and memorable album ender.
Henry co-wrote all of the songs with producer Silbar and a few other writers.
Their writing talents and knack for putting together a pleasantly professional recording is a huge plus and another example of the amazing musical talent that can be found in Oklahoma.
For more information, go to www.shanehenry.com.
Grade - A
