Nov 30, 2021
REVIEW: Dave Isaacs — I Like What I See (SINGLE)
Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they appear, but the road ahead sure looks mighty fine. That’s the gist of the new song “I Like What I See” from bluesman/rocker Dave Isaacs. Fashioned with a groove that echoes the American blues spirit but mimicking a bit of the rock sound of the 70s, Isaacs plays it cool from the first note. His laid back singing style, still impassioned, is a nice juxtaposition to his intuitive electric guitar playing style. This song is like playing with fire, with the virtuoso guitarist bringing the heat.
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It’s easy to kick back and take this one in stride. Isaacs, known around the Nashville scene as “The Nashville Guitar Guru”, flexes his guitar grit often. It’s not a wailing wavelength, but rather some catchy, almost wet licks that add up towards the end as a full sound. I can see folks using words like swampy to describe the tones in this one, which I agree work well. Still, that reminds me more of the Alabama or Louisiana sound. This one has more woodsy vibes and Grand Canyon views. The pallet that Isaacs draws from is fluid and he has a commanding way of sculpting his sound. It’s sweltering with guitar — the instrument takes front and center. What you might miss, if you’re solely listening to the guitar (which is easy to do) is the way the rhythm plays out. The song really moves.
Issacs sings like he’s been keeping this song under wraps for years. He brings a wild sense of whimsy, yes, but he also brings in reality. He’s not shooting for the stars in his harmonies and that’s what makes his vocals all the richer. He reminds me a lot of Jackson Brown — if Brown were singing a blues song. I’ve seen my share of dead ends and back alleys, Isaacs sings. That line transported me to what I can only imagine being stages in the smallest of towns. You know, the hole in the wall joints that you might stick to the floor while walking — but the places that make up America. That line, too, tells me he’s a fighter. He’s not giving up on his craft. His art is his soul and vice versa. Isaacs gets you enamored with the storytelling, and he keeps you in the grip with that catching guitar work.
That cool demeanor he projects when he sings the chorus, I like what I see, has me dreaming about the times that you really feel established. This song encapsulates the idea of looking back and realizing that it was all worth it in the end. You feel satisfied and fulfilled. You’ve made it. I think that’s a universal feeling that Issacs nails. “I Like What I See” has Isaacs giving his all and doing what he does best. His guitar work is phenomenal and the sound couldn’t be tighter. It’s a definite song that should make some “Best of 2021” lists. “I Like What I See” is from Isaacs’ album, Choogle.
Colin Jordan
