One of the reasons there are so many singer-songwriters records around, is that it’s not hard a hard thing to do musically, not necessarily needing a band, but that for all it’s simplicity, the format seems to have endless possibilities, from folky to art rock to jazz to world music to blues. In short, almost any contemporary music genre can be represented in the singer-songwriter format. This week we have yet another singer-songwriter who while not musically iconoclastic, uses the folk-influence format to create a very enjoyable straightforward album. It’s Paul Givant, whose new release is called Marigold.

Southern California born and bred Paul Givant has been heard previously on this album review series in his role as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter in the band Rose’s Pawn Shop, whose 2022 album was called Punch Drunk Life. The group was touring extensively until COVID hit, and growing family responsibilities resulted in some personnel shifts. While the band remains intact and is on tour this summer, Givant channeled his energies to a solo album, which is actually his second solo recording, after one called Fashion District Adjacent.

The new album is a little more folk-influenced than his his previous solo recording, but it’s not without a regular band, including three of the other members of Rose’s Pawn Shop, who make appearances. Like his work with Rose’s Pawn Shop, Paul Givant on the new album combines very appealing folk-influenced tenor vocals with first-rate lyric writing, sometimes philosophical, sometimes adding a twist to the love-song paradigm, and considerations of life’s circumstances in general. Most of the songs have a positive or encouraging message, such as celebrating life and looking at the bright side of what might be a sad state of affairs.

Givant is heard on multiple string instruments, guitar, mandolin and banjo, with some harmonica. Joining him are Rose’s Pawn Shop members Zachary Ross on guitars, Stephen Andrews on bass and Tim Weed on violin and string arrangements. Also appearing are David Goodstein on drums, Miguel “Oso” Ramirez on percussion, Chris Joyner on keyboards, and Mary Scholz on backing vocals.

Opening is the title track Marigold an uplifting song about how love can turn one’s life around. <<>>

With a similar sound though with a more introspective lyrical mood is a song called Tripping on the Moon. Tim Weed’s violin and string arrangements made a tasteful appearance. <<>>

More rock-oriented is a song called 21 Seconds. The lyrics a bit more cryptic, but the mood remains positive. <<>>

More plaintive lyrically and musically is the track called Tidal Wave about facing life’s adversities. <<>>

One of the more interesting songs on the album is What You’ve Given to Me, an appreciation of someone you depended on, though apparently after a divorce. <<>>

The pandemic disruption especially to the lives of traveling musicians is still being felt in songs that arose during that period. That was apparently Givant’s inspiration for the song Rain in Los Angeles on the new album. <<>>

Givant nicely addresses the dichotomy between the larger political world and one’s family in the song On the Eve of a New War, which can be both timely and universal. <<>>

The album ends with the contemplative-sounding piece called Holding You Up a consideration how of love can overcome adversity. <<>>

Marigold the new album by Paul Givant is the epitome of a good singer-songwriter record, with well-written intelligent lyrics, tasteful musical backing and Givant’s very appealing vocals. It’s somewhat less country influenced and it’s more personal than Givant’s work with his band Rose’s Pawn Shop, and hence his decision to do this album outside the context of his still active band. He touches on subjects that a lot of singer-songwriters have addressed in past, but what makes it a standout is his ability to do it so well.

Our grade for audio quality is an “A-minus,” with a clean sound and a relative absence of unnecessary studio effects, though as is so frequently the case, the music’s dynamics were impaired by heavy-handed volume compression designed to jack up the loudness.

Singer-songwriters have been a staple of the music world for 60 years now, since Bob Dylan put the genre on the map. The musical format has persisted though generations of pop music trends, and thus shown its durability. In a way, Paul Givant’s Marigold could have appeared in its present form at any time in the last 50 or so years and still be relevant. It’s a good indication that this music will have staying power.

(c) Copyright 2025 George D. Graham. All rights reserved.
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<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

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