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I can’t seem to get a certain song out of my head. From the first time I heard “Day In Day Out,” the catchy opening cut from Aaron Barnhart’s debut album, Missing Pieces, I was hooked. With its lush piano and rich guitar solos, I couldn’t wait to hear what the rest of the CD would bring.
The equally memorable “Missing Pieces” prolonged my euphoria; Barnhart’s voice is strong and engaging, reminiscent of Elton John in his Tumbleweed Connection days. His light, bluesy vocals initially enticed me in “Painkiller,” but the song switched to an all too familiar melodic style. Okay, not as satisfying, but still listenable.
Then something went terribly wrong. “One More Second Chance” and “The Water’s Edge” slowed the pace, while offering no originality. The tempo sped up with “Another Day,” which was somewhat saved by the horn section. However, it was hard to get past corny lyrics, such as “Throw your money and your bills away because Love is all you need to repay…”
I still couldn’t forget the two opening songs, though, so I still had hope. However, weak musical lines saturated “Better Than Happiness,” which continued throughout the album. Barnhart teased us with a brief piano solo in “Whatever You Get,” but still offered nothing lyrically. He concluded with the sluggish and equally uninspiring “Million Miles” and “Slings & Arrows.”
Barnhart’s got the voice—sweet but with just enough edge. However, while the lyrics show some introspection, they’re just ordinary. The same can be said for the bland melodies and accompaniments, which also plague the album. A song doesn’t need to include both memorable lyrics and music; one or the other will usually suffice. Unfortunately, Missing Pieces has neither for most of the album. Barnhart could have somewhat salvaged this by showing off his jazz and classical piano training, but he relies solely on his voice and lyrics to carry him through. It just isn’t enough.
Aaron Barnhart tantalizes listeners with two outstanding cuts, and then he leaves us high and dry. I’d recommend downloading “Day In Day Out” and “Missing Pieces” and skipping the rest. It’s a pity; there’s so much potential in Missing Pieces, but Barnhart just couldn’t create or execute enough stimulating material for an entire album.
