Old Futures Gone (CD - 2003)

Dean Magraw (electric guitar); Jeff Victor (keyboards); Jim Anton, Enrique Toussaint, Jim Anton (bass); Marc Anderson (drums, percussion); JT Bates, Noah Levy (drums); Rob Genadek (tambourine); Lucy Kaplansky, Alice Peacock, Kathleen Johnson, Joel Sayles (background vocals).

Principally recorded at Echo Bay Studios, Plymouth, Minnesota.

Personnel: John Gorka (vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo); Dean Magraw, Dirk Freymuth (electric guitar); Jeff Victor (keyboards); Marc Anderson (drums, percussion); Noah Levy, J.T. Bates (drums); Rob Genadek (tambourine, percussion).

Audio Mixer: Rob Genadek.

Recording information: Echo Bay Studios, Plymouth, MN.

Photographer: Ann Marsden.

Arranger: Rob & The Players.

John Gorka has carved out his reputation as a thoughtful singer/songwriter, the male counterpart to a Nanci Griffith. As with his other albums, he fills Old Futures Gone with stories of love lost, loneliness, and trying to understand oneself, bread-and-butter subjects for the singer/songwriter. Lines like "I will always be lonely, it's the way that I am" from "Always" and "can't go home again, can't outrun the past" from "Dogs and Thunder" are worn like badges of honor. These lyrics are dressed up in good if not outstanding arrangements, with electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drums, and bass creating an attractive blend that works well as a backdrop for Gorka's rich vocals. The addition of several guest vocalists is also a nice touch. Despite many genial qualities, Old Futures Gone begins to sound overly familiar at midpoint. There's irony in the fact that only a singer/songwriter would write a five-minute song ("Outside") about wanting to "get a little bit out of my head." There's also a certain preciousness that comes with the inclusion of notes at the top of each song's lyric, such as "to all who have found something larger than themselves to fight for, however late that discovery may come." While fans will enjoy the tasteful arrangements and lyrics they've come to expect from Gorka, Old Futures Gone discloses itself within a confessional style that's become a bit too safe. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. minimize