Indie Intellect

Folk music for the young and educated

ohn Shade's debut album, the coyly titled All You Love is Need, is a comfortable mix of folk throwbacks and new-world indie sensibility (picture Bob Dylan listening to Eliot Smith on his iPhone). It makes sense that the album was recorded at the studio of Bon Iver, an artist walking a similar line, but on a much larger commercial scale. Shade’s sound is clean, crisp, and easily dissectible. Minimalism is key, in both production and subject matter. The lyrics come from an intelligent mind that has simplified life to poetic meter with thoughts like “What is there to say that has not been said/A lullaby will work instead,” and, “But a penny saved is only a penny.” There are dozens of such memorable lines, all relatable for their ability to paint a story. Despite the dry honesty, the mood is upbeat, thanks triumphant string arrangements and friendly finger-picking acoustics. You can snag the album as a pay-what-you-want download (a la Radiohead) on Shade’s website.