Alex Whitmore Just Me and the Guitar 2001 WMP Records by David Pilot
	2001 has been a busy year for Metroplex singer/songwriter Alex Whitmore. Incessant gigging at local venues, both solo and with daughters Eleanor and Bonnie, took much of his time, but Whitmore managed to put together two discs. Tale by the World is a full-blown studio production laid down in Austin, while Just Me and the Guitar 2001 is an acoustic finger-picking odyssey through territory both sentimental and humorous. Whitmore has made a local name for himself as a self-styled humorist and picker, and is well liked and respected by DFW's collection of Texas music makers. As is often the case with singer/songwriters, he's at his best in a live setting, but this disc does an admirable job of showcasing the substantial guitar talent the man possesses. The disc was recorded, mixed and mastered by Whitmore himself, and it could just be there's the potential for another career behind the board. It's always a good thing when an independent artist has the ability and resources to package and distribute his/her own music in their own way. What stands out on Just Me and the Guitar 2001 is, well, the guitar. Whitmore has a singular finger-picking style that calls on memories of hoe-downs centuries past while keeping things light and fresh in the 21st century. The man can flat out play, and listening to that guitar sing harmony on this CD is a joy. It's been said that Whitmore is the equivalent of a poor man's Steve Goodman, but I hear more of Don McLean, particularly on the opening cut "Time Capsule." It's safe to say this is a basic folk music disc; it's also safe to say it's folk done well. There are stories of childhood, young love, and fatherhood interspersed around a ghost tale and a beautiful song titled "Reflections" that, frankly, makes the disc. It's a haunting track, and here more than ever the vocals and guitar work combine to perform a duet that will stay with you a long, long time. Whitmore's style of music is not for everyone, but those who like it quiet and introspective with a dash of humor and sarcastic edge will find him much to their liking. Just Me and the Guitar 2001 showcases some of the best of what he does, and faithfully represents the artist as you'll hear him at one of his live shows. Perhaps most importantly, this album makes it clear why Whitmore is respected by his peers and loved by his fans. He's a fixture at local watering holes and, with his new studio album, he's looking to expand beyond the reaches of the Metroplex. Listen to this one, though, and you can say you knew him when. Check out Alex Whitmore at www.2aw.com. There's info on this disc, as well as his earlier releases and the Tale by the World mentioned above. You can contact David Pilot at: tailgunner-at-rockzilla.net

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