Don Mularz / Florida Street Album Review / Fireworks Magazine

by PeacockSunrise | Dec 12, 2024 | Music News

Issue No. 109 / Released: 12/12 2024 Don Mularz / Florida Street Album Review

PeacockSunrise Records

If you’re a fan of singer-songwriters, then you are in the right place. Don Mularz is a musician who started to play the drums at the tender age of eight. However, events in the swinging 60s made him change his thought process. Basically, whilst he was able to emulate the chops of Ginger Baker and Ron Bushy, he felt their frantic drumming style was way too athletic for him to sustain… And who is to argue that is not a solid point of view? Then along came The Beatles, and he knew instantly that playing a guitar and, more importantly, being a singer-songwriter was the path for him.

Mularz’s journey has evolved through Breeze, Split Decision and, more recently, Dark Horse Flyer, a band featured in previous editions of Fireworks. For Florida Street, Mularz has brought out ten of his instruments: acoustic, electric, dobro, pedal steel and bass guitars, fiddle, mandolin, drums, and banjo. Not to mention providing a smattering of harmonica and the main vocals. He is joined on this album by Beth Cohen of Boston (vocals), Bob Taylor (piano and organ), and Richard Taylor (fretless bass, on Write On Water).

The Ten tracks are simply as smooth as the finest whiskey; think a blend of Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Neil Young – you may think hey that is quite a healthy stable, well… do not worry as the songwriting is of the highest quality and the playing simply sublime. I do implore you to listen carefully to the lyrics.

Throughout the opus, Cohen provides beautiful harmonies accompanying Mularz. The upbeat ‘Mean Old World’ kicks us o` with a bolt, quickly followed by a lifetime journey of lost love in ‘Twenty One’. The guitar- picking on the sad Native American story ‘Major Dade’ is simply beautiful.

‘Write On Water’ features the full-on classic Mularz vibe; he spends most of his life out on the Atlantic Ocean when not performing, close your eyes and he will take you there. The title track closes us out, quite a profound tune that does feel autobiographical. You will feel that Neil Young is the one playing the harmonica… I know I did.

When you want some feel-good Americana music to listen to, go grab yourself a fine bourbon and a cigar, sit back relax, and enjoy. You will find your toes tapping away and your fingers gently strumming along.
By Ken Roberts