Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

There is an interesting story behind the release of The One Who's Leavin'. Doug Spartz, following his critically acclaimed AMERICAN STORIES, LIES, AND TALES in 2006, was diagnosed with cancer and suffered a heart attack. While still in the hospital, Spartz booked studio time and began planning the recording of what he thought would be his last project. Whether it is or not remains to be seen. The One Who's Leavin', however, stands as an honest and forthright project on its own, backstory or not.

Out of 20 tracks on The One Who's Leavin', over half are cover tunes, with some interesting selections. Particularly noteworthy is Spartz’ take on Dylan’s Forever Young, which he manages to make his own. Spartz also covers another Dylan composition, the lesser-known Ring Them Bells, where he is joined by rockabilly legend Billy Lee Riley. As for the other covers, some work well (“Golden Slumbers,” “I‘ve Always Been Crazy”) some maybe not so well (Galveston, All The Young Dudes). Spartz, however, is a competent tunesmith on his own, and tracks like All Is Well and the title tune typify the feel of the project, which is one of peaceful acceptance, if not optimism, of the future. Spartz’ vocals are nicely weathered, and the arrangements --- guitar, fiddles, bass, organ and drums --- are perfectly understated. The focus of The One Who's Leavin' is on Spartz, as it should be. There is nothing about the project that sounds rushed, and overall it sounds more like a group of comfortable and extremely competent friends who got together to make some music, which, when you stop to think about it, is exactly how it should sound.

Spartz’ immediate plans are to keep writing and recording, which sounds like a good way to spend one’s allotted time, whether it be measured in weeks, months, or years. I’m reminded of Thomas Aquinas response, when, in the middle of a game of billiards, a student asked him what he would do if he learned he would die within a half-hour. Aquinas responded that he would continue to play pool. Just so.