By Ian Bremner

If you’ve ever been listening to a Deslondes record and gotten caught off-guard by the slow, burly voice, you’ve already heard Riley Downing. The proud Kansas City native released his first proper solo record, Start It Over on New West Records. It’s a heavy, jaunty affair highlighting life’s simple pleasures. When he sings “It’s good to see ya, it’s good to be seen” it’s almost met with a nod as if, “you know what, it IS!”

There are songs about record stores, being a shoulder to lean on and looking forward to things, no matter what they are. There’s a real human element to the entire record. Downing’s matter-of-fact delivery lays it all on the line every line. It feels conversational, like sitting in the living room with family passing around a guitar, swapping stories and tossing beers to one another when they run empty.

Buy/Listen to Riley Downing’s “Start It Over” on New West Records