One of my favorite quotes about making records, comes from Michael “Mickey” Melchiondo Jr, who is perhaps better known by his stage name, Dean Ween , from the alternative rock band, Ween…. “When You Make A Great Record, It’s Around Forever “

This quote, perfectly describes the breathtakingly beautiful new album , “Sorrows and Smiles”, from Americana folk-rock project , Adam Sherman Band, led by acclaimed Cambridge singer-songwriter, Adam Sherman.

You can listen to “Sorrows and Smiles , on Spotify , Here and on Bandcamp Here

“Sorrows and Smiles”, from Adam Sherman Band, is an album of great substance, full from top to bottom with a melodic presence and authenticity that you just can’t fake .

The opening track, “Everyday Dangers” , which we first fell in love with back in October, sets the tone for an extraordinary 28 minute music listening experience, that you won’t soon forget.

Photo Credit: Carissa Johnson

As we listened to “Sorrows and Smiles”, we felt a deep and soulful connection to the music, which reminded us why we fell in love with music in the first place.

We were immediately put under the spell of “Greyhound “ If you are not moved by this song, you may need to seek medical attention. The soulful and bluesy sound of “Greyhound” will stay in your music loving soul long after the music has faded .

“Long Fall Down “ , is drenched in perfect melodies that are positively mesmerizing. The lyrics in “Long Fall Down “ are a prime example of why Adam Sherman, is a next level songwriter.

“I always aim for honesty in my lyrics,” Sherman says. “Perseverance in the face of sadness and adversity is a theme in this collection of songs. How do we pick up and move on? How do we continue to find hope and meaning in our lives when there is so much darkness around us? These are the questions I attempt to illuminate.”  

Across Sorrows and Smiles, that collection of talent includes vocalist Kelly Jean Knapp, guitarist Peter Hoffman, mandolin player Dinty Child, bassist Jeff Song, drummer Chris Michaels, Tom West on keyboards and accordion, and backing vocals on “Greyhound” by Knapp, Dychell Reeves, and Alena Sorokina. 

“I wanted the music to sound like a band – unified and cohesive,” Sherman says. “Using my live band in the studio was essential to achieving an ensemble feel to these sessions. I feel we succeeded. On my solo recordings I often played instruments myself or used various musicians to achieve a specific sound. The current sessions are performed by the bandmates who have been playing with me over the years. There is a cohesive feel to these songs that is the result of the years we’ve been making music together.” 

It may be only February, but we think we may have just listened to a possible record of the year with “Sorrows and Smiles”