CD Reviews

Donovan Frankenreiter

Recycled Recipes | Lost Highway

By WERNER TRIESCHMANN | September 5, 2007

2.5 Stars

Surfer-turned-musician Donovan Frankenreiter has a sandy beard, a warm old soul voice, and a sonic signature planted firmly in the 1970s. Instead of trying to reinvent his wheel, Frankenreiter has released an intimate EP of six cover songs brought to life with nothing but his voice and an acoustic guitar. The material is old-school — Dr. John, Creedence Clearwater Revival and, of course, Dylan; the lone exception is Wilco’s “Theologians,” and Frankenreiter’s low-key interpretation makes that one sound as classic as the others. The opposite approach was needed — but not taken — on the bitter anthem “Fortune Son.” Still, if you can’t feel the campfire crackling while Recycled Recipes is playing, you aren’t listening hard enough.

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