Butterflies and Passerbys
James Dalton
View More by this ArtistOpen iTunes to preview, buy, and download songs from James Dalton
| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiss of the Dark Haired Girl | James Dalton | 0:27 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 2 | Somewhere With You | James Dalton | 2:45 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 3 | House My Grandfather Built | James Dalton | 4:50 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 4 | Train from Pula | James Dalton | 1:01 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Wednesday Night Mass | James Dalton | 4:29 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 6 | Senator's Square | James Dalton | 2:32 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 7 | Alafaya Mama | James Dalton | 4:18 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 8 | Sprout and Ivy | James Dalton | 0:51 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 9 | All Across the Cities | James Dalton | 3:40 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 9 Songs |
Recent Customer Reviews
Review by WBJB "The Night" 90.5's Leo Zachari
by Luna MuseHere's a Review of Butterflies and Passerbys by WBJB "The Night" 90.5's Leo Zachari:
Butterflies and Passerbyes, is the fourth release from New Jersey native, James Dalton, and is his most personal album to date. There are nine tracks in all, including three passionate mandolin interludes which tie together the songs with remarkable poise.
Butterflies and Passerbyes is many things: it is social commentary, with songs like "Alafaya Mama" or "All Across the Cities"; it is a travelers album, with songs about written in or about far away places such as "Senator's Square"; and it is a confessional, with songs such as "Wednesday Night Mass". One of the album's charms is that it gives far away places a familiar feel to them and makes us realize that even if people speak a different language and a different culture, we are all the same.
Dalton plays all the instruments on the album including guitars, harmonica, mandolin, and even a xylophone. The album begins with a brilliant but effortless mandolin piece entitled, "Kiss of the Dark Haired Girl". Dalton's expertise with the mandolin is quite impressive, and adds to the quiet confessional tone of each song. This is followed by "Somewhere With You", a song about feeling alone and alienated, written fittingly enough, in Shanghai, China. The mandolin also turns up later on "Sprout and Ivy", a piece which takes its name from a graphic novel called "Korgi" by Disney animator Christian Slade.
Several recurring themes are hidden in the album. In addition to alienation and remorse, the theme of discovering who we really turns up on "Alafaya Mama". In looking for someone to solve all of our problems, in this case the titular figure of the song, Dalton comes to grips with the bitter realization that he is the enemy, he is the one person who has been stopping himself from achieving his dreams.
"Senaotor's Sqaure" is like the eye of the hurricane, tranquil yet commanding, calm on the exterior, yet packing enough intensity to level anything in its path. This is the story of a woman who lives a lie so she can feel normal. It's a story that we can all relate to, the lies we tell others and more importantly, the lies we tell ourselves.
The album ends with "All Across the Cities", happy yet melancholy tribute to the enduring character of New York City in the aftermath of 9/11. Musically, this is the heart of the album, and a fitting track to end with.
This album has a lived-in familiar feel to it and will remind you at times of Van Morrison or Rod Stewart circa Gasoline Alley. However, it's also nimble enough to surprise as it does in the track "Alafaya Mama" with its unpredicted but apt reference to Chuck D of Public Enemy.
The most striking impact of this album is that to its credit, it is an album not aiming for mainstream acceptance. This is quite simply an artist making music because he loves to make music. Butterflies and Passerbyes may not be James Dalton's big breakthrough to superstardom, but it will strike a chord in the hearts of those who appreciate good music. And James Dalton is okay with that..
http://wbjb.org/home.php/2007/04/13/review-of-butterflies-and-passerbyes/#more-8595
An Exposition of a Personal Journey
by FolkFan25This album exemplifies the struggles and triumphs of Dalton's years of traveling and touring. No stranger to this small planet Earth, Dalton's fourth album never ceases to please. The sonic and tonal qualities of his soulful voice and guitar bring about thoughts of glee and mirth. Tracks like "House my Grandfather Built" and "Wednesday Night Mass" remind me that, yes, you can go home again.
Top Albums and Songs by James Dalton
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somewhere With You | Butterflies and Passerbys | 2:45 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 2 | All Across the Cities | Butterflies and Passerbys | 3:40 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 3 | Train from Pula | Butterflies and Passerbys | 1:01 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 4 | House My Grandfather Built | Butterflies and Passerbys | 4:50 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Sprout and Ivy | Butterflies and Passerbys | 0:51 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
