Community Theater is the extraordinary new album from Peter Donovan.

By Graeme Smith

The Strange Earth Studios in Seattle, USA has now closed its doors. Before it did, Peter Donovan recorded the last album that would ever be recorded there.

Donovan’s story is told against a backdrop of alternative soft rock while the lyrics are charismatically delivered by vocals that seem to feel every word and note. There are licks of country and Americana in tracks like Frankie’s, bringing to mind some of Conor Oberst’s solo work (Oberst’s Digital Ash in a Digital Urn recorded as Bright Eyes is an inspiration for this album.)

Dusty Bottles is a particularly lush, bluesy highlight while I Don’t Live Here Anymore and Lorelei provide two poignant moments at the heart of the record thanks to their hard-hitting lyrics. It’s not all darkness, though. Album closers Strays and Last Dance provide some final catharsis.

Regular readers will know my love for Bright Eyes and obviously I loved Peter Donovan’s new album too. However, I do think there’s a universality about it that will win a lot of hearts. Community Theater is out now and you can give it a listen below.