New Will Stratton album, “No Wonder” is golden

By Jared Field
Western Herald

Soft and simply subtle describes, 22 year-old Will Stratton’s sophomore album, “No Wonder,” to a tee.

His simply brilliant song-writing style gives importance and eloquence to the near energy-less tracks. Listeners’ attention is drawn to the powerful stories told in the acoustic-driven tracks through personal relation and uncanny beauty. “No Wonder,” is one for the rock and roll ages.

“No Wonder’s,” 14 song track list is a masterpiece from head to toe. Resembling sounds of Nick Drake, Damien Rice and Conor Oberst, the album is an exploration in to the mind and the soul of its creator. Stratton titles the first song, “Who Will.”

“Who will save our souls? There’s so much left to do,” he sings in the opening line, as listeners are left floating in a dream surrounded by a beautifully played acoustic guitar and soft, outstanding vocal harmonies. The next few songs, including “For Franny Glass,” “The Country Clear,” and “The Past Always Runs Faster,” are relatively similar to “Who Will,” as they all follow the same idea of acoustic storytelling. One track brings back legends of the literary world, J.D. Salinger’s Franny Glass.

But Franny Glass isn’t the only fictional character to come back to life. “Robin & Marian,” is a song reminiscent of an indie folk version of a ‘BRUCE!’ power ballad telling the love story of Robin and Marian. From Robin stealing in his rebellion against the government, to buying his Maid Marian items in return for her not ratting him out.

Dark and ominous begins “Nineteen,” and it quickly becomes the albums most upbeat tracks. With an electric guitar solo close to the end, “Nineteen,” is positively exciting as it doesn’t fit its niche. It sounds as though it could be a love story as he sings about being far away from a girl and not knowing if he can ever see her in the same way when he returns. The guitar solo is angry and emotional and hits notes that sound haggard and out of key.

“This song rocks,” said Western Michigan University junior Stephanie Lyons. “It’s heavy but chill at the same time.”

The ninth track, “You’re the Real Thing” is another more upbeat song with Stratton’s vocals briskly breezing over the groovy bass line and tambourine-carried drums. It’s spirit lifting tone leaves listeners with a quote saying “Don’t give up on me, you’re the real thing… just wait and see.”

“No Wonder,” the proficient masterpiece of Will Stratton, was released Nov. 3, and is currently in stores and on itunes. Will Stratton’s debut album entitled “What the Night Said” is a strongly recommended prerequisite to this brilliant work of rock and roll artistry.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Nov 17 2009. Filed under A & E. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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