Lonnie Walker, out of Raleigh, NC, releases their debut full-length These Times Old Times today. The name suggests a solo act, but Lonnie Walker is actually a full band. One word describes this album: fun.

Fans of The Magic Numbers, Dan Bern and even Bob Dylan will appreciate the smart lyric writing and snarky, nasal delivery. But Lonnie Walker is more than that. They have a distinct flair for building a song up to a crescendo, then breaking it waaaay down, and then building it back up in a different way.

Take “Crochet,” the last and longest track on the album, for example. It opens with a sweet duet with simple lyrics: “You make your little spaces/I’ll make my little spaces too.” Then Lonnie Walker weaves different sounds together: piano, guitar, vocals, percussion, layer upon layer, until it bursts into a full sound. Simply put, it’s freakin’ good.

Lonnie Walker’s lead singer Brian Corum isn’t the definition of a beautiful singer, but he delivers the well written lyrics so well, it doesn’t matter. Remember Neutral Milk Hotel? It’s like that.

“Back Home Inside You” is a bare bones song, most notably punctuated with a refrain of a trailing ‘I-i-i-i-i’ throughout, interrupted by quick, punchy bursts of acerbic verses. Corum’s twangy delivery of this tune is amazing.

“Wider Than White” has a great organ opening, accompaniment and ending. In the song, Corum continually claims “I am having a good time at it/I am having a ball.” It sounds like it.

Also on the album are a few truly instrumental numbers. I’m guessing they are ‘break’ songs for their sets. “Old Birds In The Seas” and “Horse Boots” are stand alone good little songs.

I’m a big fan of this album. It’s been a while since I’ve heard something so distinct. I am looking forward to multiple listenings so I can discover every little Easter egg Lonnie Walker has hidden.

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