Brett Wiscons - Late Bloomer (2022)

While the showcase doesn’t feature anything innovative musically the recording is jubilant on the opener “Vertical City.” Indianapolis-based vocalist Brett Wiscons has energy & enthusiasm & though it’s formulaic in its inception it’s eminently listenable & enjoyable. “Wall Tall” sounds modeled after such artists as Marc Cohn & John Hiatt. Diluted just a tad with an 80s confection similar to Richard Marx & Corey Hart but that’s not to say Brett knows how to apply savoring touches. He does.

Vocally, don’t expect Jim Morrison or Elvis but do expect vocals that have personality. The songs are not intense but have a grain of attractiveness in the presentation. “Late Bloomer,” is well-thought-out & avoids the pitfalls of sugary melodies & generates some sparks. It’s still basically pop-rock but thankfully no “Eye of the Tiger” pablum.

What colorizes several songs is the added “under the surface” female vocal that adds a nice soulful touch. “Collection of Hearts,” is a fine song, beautiful except for the vocal enhancement on Brett’s voice. No additional embellishment is needed since this song is genuinely soulful, naturally. The children’s chorus is good & the string section at the end is a wonderful touch.

For the most part, Wiscons effectively applies his voice to a wide variety of pop styles. “When You Can’t Breathe,” hovers close to headlines comes close without being too pompous. What isn’t established as yet is a Brett Wiscons style. The songs are all fine-tuned but when you cruise the rim of controversy with the prior song then slip into a cliché rich repetitious pop confection like “Let’s Do It, Again” the vocalist’s signature becomes blurred.