Simply sublime, Sharif has talent in its truest form - he has a natural gift for captivating the listener without overplaying his hand. On Kisses and Lies, lyrically and thematically, Sharif picks up where Gram Parsons unfortunately left off. This is not to adjudicate that he is a copy or cover act by any means. He is original, special and inspirited, which may be his greatest similarity to Parsons. Sharif remains ensconced in the roots of the alt. country/folk/americana sound yet with a more modern and uptempo motif. Kisses and Lies is filled with the obligatory discourse often associated with this genre; heartbreak, women, alcohol, etc., but Sharif keeps it fresh, succeeding by using a tried and true precept without sounding, well, tried and true.
Kisses and Lies (the third release by Sharif) was written, produced and arranged with an elegant grace and an air of simplicity. For example, on "Worth The Fall", the hushed guitar combined with the gazing vocals of Sharif and the simply crafted lyrics combine to beautiful effect. "Dark Side Of The Dawn", featuring Rhett Miller, offers brilliant harmonies and is so deceptively humble that it feels at once unobtrusively familiar yet assertively original. "Far From You" is wonderfully absorbing and genuine. It's one of those songs that begs the listener to claim ownership, sharing it with others yet defiantly claiming it as one's personal statement. The Hank Williams-inspired "I Won't Need Your Kisses Anymore" is an acoustic treasure, lemon-bitter lyrically with a sweet, old-school musical twist and is a great departure from the rest of the disc. If I could make one suggestion, I would have moved the song up in the track hierarchy, as it deserves to be noticed. On the other hand, if you are listening, it is definitely worth the wait. "Another Wasted Rose" is the crowning point of the disc and is indeed a song that even Parsons himself would be proud to own. It is sadly beautiful and simply spectacular.
This self-produced effort features a veritable all-star backing of A-list musical talent. His backing band includes Tim Bradshaw (John Mayer, David Gray), Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams), Mark Goldenberg (Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr), Stewart Miles (Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Shawn Colvin) and Brian Jones (Mandy Moore, Liz Phair). Additionally, inspired appearances by Rhett Miller (The Old 97’s) and Robb MacLean (Limbeck) on backing vocals offer added bonus . The fact that the LP is indeed self-produced with this peer group should serve to open a lot of eyes and ears to the talent of Sharif.
Sharif is an astounding talent. His vocals are honest and rootsy. His songwriting is unaffected and honest and lies simply in thought and process, a refreshing interchange to the often over-complicated sound so preeminent in music today, It's rare in musical composition that as a listener one can find a friend, a drinking buddy and a confidante. Sharif provides a steadfast soul and a resolute voice with which to ally. Kisses and Lies feels like a late night drive with a most trusted friend, wherein the listener prefers to take the long way home just to enjoy the company.
Michael Canter, www.sonicjive.com
