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Dust Covered Truth: Exclaim cd reviews by Eric Thom..

There's something smouldering away near Kingston that not only deserves to be heard but stands as one of the best Canadian independent releases of 1993.  Dust Covered Truth is the first cd, and its taste full take on country meets rock deserves your attention.  It features the confident guitar and vocal of j.c.porter, who formed the the band in 92 with brant hanna guitar and back up vocals,  in their home town of Amherstview,Ont.  Overflowing with warm, gentle songs, this first outing is reminiscent of a wide ranges of artists, including old ways Neil young, with the  casual instrumental swing of Jerry Garcia, and the tougher, country-flavoured noodlings of Uncle tupelo.  Porter's voice has a soft, easy going tone that's recognizable and distinctive (imagine john hartford with a hang over).  Hanna's harmonies create a dead like aura that envelops each tune like a well worn work glove.  The music is categorically mellow, incorporating acoustic and electric guitar leads which have been skillfully mixed just under the vocals. the song Pugilist is definitely radio-friendly, and laden with hooks aplenty.  "ten miles high" is another powerful song recalling the grateful Dead at their most intelligent.  You'll even find a touch of gram parsons in gold crusaders.

Dust Covered Truth: review in NEW WAX

Absolutely gorgeous.  Ten beautifully paced, well-written songs that float by like a sunday afternoon.  This cd has the kind of feel that Neil Young took 20 years to recapture.  Even the instrumentation choices work wonderfully.  The mix of electric and acoustic guitars, a little harmonica for texture-- everything works..  J.C. Porter recounts his own lyrics with a deft touch.

Dust Covered Truth: review by MIke Guiney

Since moving outside of the city I don't get to hear as much live music as often as I would like.  So I have to admit until now i had only heard of  this CD. Now I can say I have heard and I like!!!!.  This release, which was put together last year is a collection of ten original tunes.  J.C. Porter pens the lyrics and the accompanying music is a group effort.  The songs are mostly written from the point of view of the introspective social observer with the refreshing absence of the he/she or you/me love song...  Actually, as i got more familiar with the material I found myself wanting to sing along with some of the cuts, like "Great Canadian" and "The Mender".. Not the drunken singing you might do with friends at a party, but the kind that comes from wanting to be in some way part of the song.  Indeed, it's clear that these guys want to place emphasis on the lyrics the production is good and the vocal is right up front, you hear every word.  The possible contemporary influences that came to mind as I listened to Dust covered Truth were names like Chris Rea, REM,U2, etc...  But there are less apparent elements that might be attributed to elder statesmen like the grateful dead and Neil Young. But the whole mix stands up and the originality remains compromised.  There's a line in the song "You'll be all right" that says " I just gotta get my shit together......... It sounds like they are well on their way to having theirs together..........

Dust Covered Truth: review by Greg Burliuk Kingston Whig Standard.

This no frills album recorded in the bands own studio is a stunner.  with nods to the cowboy junkies Neil Young and early R.E.M.,  The album is one of stark beauty and moodiness.  Their evocative music should be in the films of music loving directors like Canadian Bruce Macdonald and Jim Jaramusch..  There's a beautiful marriage here between Porters haunting voice, his eerie ,enigmatic lyrics, and the minimalist but striking guitars of Brant Hanna and Dave Davies.  LIke the junkies, the band straddles the border between country and popular music, with the latter more heavily influential.  Unlike many groups in their first recording efforts, the bands sound changes from song to song.  Two of my favorites are pugilists, with it's haunting guitar licks,  and great Canadian with the chorus line "if anyone here has a problem, take it up with the lord."  Also pale horse has beautiful delicate guitar playing. Independently produced, the album begs for major label distribution.

Shutdown Days: Review by Greg Burliuk Kingston Whig Standard

The clock you hear ticking is mine:  Two years ago when I reviewed this bands album Dust Covered Truth, I predicted Big things from them.  their new album convinces me anew that they aren't big because of a talent shortage.   Shutdown Days is even moodier than Dust Covered Truth-  Don't close your eyes or your liable to float away on a cloud of J.C. Porter's gentle touching voice  (somewhere in the vicinity of James Taylor or Jackson Browne)  and the soothing guitars of Brant Hanna and Dave Davies.  This is music that makes you thoughtful.  On the first listen I wasn't sure I liked it as much as its predecessor but each listen has helped me change my mind. and the lyrics are just challenging enough to make you want to poke at them a little more.  I think my initial reticence might be that these songs are not songs that hit you over the head with their intensity or because they're tune happy. (yep this is music for adults). For that reason my favorites among the 15 song collection shift from listen to listen.  Right now they are the mysterious Alyson and the song bird the exuberant (at least for this band) Outside in, and the implied danger of the romance suggested in Walk Softly.

Shutdown Days: Review by  Mary steer

This is not to say that I haven't listened to Shutdown days many times.  As with Dust Covered Truth, the first album....  Shutdown Days is entirely their own creation.. All songs were written by vocalist and guitarist J.C. Porter with help from the rest of the group...   The album makes a really pleasing listen----  something to sway or groove or just to delight in..  The music features rewarding changes from song to song.  From the more rocking pace of Sally at god's speed to the stiller depths of Midnight sun and satellite, and the haunting strains of my favorite, Come Running.  Some believe this group will be the next Kingston band to make it big nationally..  They have had air play on CBC radio and all the favourable reviews.. Perhaps Shutdown Days will give them the break they need..........

Fall: review by Kyra Walker

local musician J.C.Porter has just released a new album entitled FALL and it's a listener's dream..   The album Porter's first solo venture, is a collection of 12 strikingly poetic originals. it shine as a masterpiece, standing as his best work to date...   suitable for those with interest for word and music, it is simplistically complicated, enticing the psyche to come out and play, it spawns an intellectual brainstorm, perfect for introspective moments.. There exists a profound wisdom in Porter's method of expression, his choice of words and haunting delivery... The album boasts classic, raw acoustic sound, a mellow voice and honest lyrics.  The listener can delve into the depths of one's own mind and mysteriousness to which Porter provides the key........    Porter's been involved in the kingston music scene for more than 15 years, having played with many local talents and bands but has remained the main songwriter, guitarist and vocalist.  His previous bands include The Stand', Purple Toast, The Itch, The Cropdusters and Motherfunction..   Porter became part of motherfunction in early 1997. the band achieved a refined uniqueness and spent considerable amount of time recording, most of which has been archived granting the public to only one release1998-a compilation entitled Dusty has left the building.  Finally in 1999 ,Porter and Brant Hanna (once a member of the Cropdusters) began to work together once more, eventually releasing FALL, recorded at Third Wave Recording Studio in Kingston, Ont.

Fall: review Sarah Crosbie

His band may have bitten the dust, but it seems a solo career has fallen into J.C. Porter's lap..  Porter a kingston musician, has recently released his alternative-country debut CD FALL..  With 15 years experience making music both on stage and in the studio, his new 12 song album features Porter as lead vocalist, guitarist and song writer on all tracks..  Porter has played in numerous groups, including the stand and purple toast, while simultaneously playing with the itch.  Porter also did a stint with the popular Cropdusters, who released Dust covered truth(1993) and Shutdown Days(1995), to critical acclaim across North America. After a brief stint in Motherfunction, Porter began working with Brant Hanna, who was also a member of the Cropdusters.  Less than a year later, FALL was released with Hanna claiming  much deserved credit as back up and harmony vocalist and guitarist on every track.  Porter and Hanna would be a great act to feature in a local pub.  Together, they make music that is relaxed, mellow and melodic, the kind of music you want to listen to when you just want beer and banter.. On the other hand, Porter's songs would also make a good companion.  they're simple honest and gentle-  much like that of the genre of alternative country. Gaining popularity since the early 1990s, alternative country signifies a return to early country's fascination with blues influenced folk.  Exemplified in the works of Jay hawks, Wilco, and Sun Volt, alternative country has garnered critical acclaim with both listeners and press. Under the strength of his tender melodies, Porter strives to bring a authenticity back to the art of telling a tale.  He strips the music down so that the importance in his work shines through in the lyrics and the vocals.. Highlights on the CD are Judgment Day Rain (dearest companion), a ballad that is a beautiful hymn accentuated with keyboard pan pipe sounds and Porter's and hanna's soft vocals.  The best track on the album is October, a haunting duet between Porter and Hanna.  The song is an inspirational message that uses the month of October to illustrate that life is cyclical and there's always something else to look ahead to, whether it's snow blanketing the earth, or sunshine filtering through a window. "YOU'RE THE CANDLE" Porter sings "could you please lay beside me, in this room that is call Mind/ in this tangled mess of darkness you're the candle that I find."  Porter makes you feel you want to be someone's candle!!.. There are some drawbacks to the CD, namely Track # 2 G blues, which uses a light brush on the snare drum.  The snare provides a strong beat that's needed to chill out with a glass of wine in your hand and the tune in your head. The lyrics, however, are accompanied by a ghostly whisper that becomes intrusive.  Less would have been much, much more. soothing yet eerie, Porter and Hanna have made a CD that succeeds on many different levels.  You can Fall into Porter's musical world by picking up a CD at Indigo books or by ordering on line at this web site.........