Album Review: Ben Reel, Spirit’s Not Broken

This is Ben Reel’s 12th album, and it traffics in a familiar brand of heartland rock. Think a dialled-down Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Bryan Adams, add in some Americana and dollops of roots, and you get an idea of the Armagh man’s sensibilities.

To begin at the end, Spirit’s Not Broken finishes with the title track. As you might guess, it’s a song of resilience, a factor that drives many songs he has written through the years. It’s more impactful here, courtesy of its sparing arrangement, and haunting and understated, Knopfler-esque guitar.

Opener ‘Better Be Better’ breezes in with echoes of The Monkees’ ‘Last Train To Clarksville’ over a very cohesive band sound. The clever ‘Come What June’ ups the ante like a casually strident Springsteen road song, with emotional vocals to the fore, and lyrics reflecting the demanding changes all around us as time marches onward.

The longer ‘Down By The Stream’ doesn’t hide Van Morrison’s influence, and keeps up the wistful outdoor feel, including a reference to painter John Constable’s countryside. Elsewhere, ‘The Joker’ will resonate with anyone despairing at the antics of those running (and ruining) our world, while also suggesting that “God is the joker within.”

Reel’s philosophy seems to emphasise that reality is staring at us all the time, and all we need do is stare right back. That and his mix of optimism and defiance will help us get through.

7.5/10