Arthur Alligood - I Have Not Seen the Wind

Arthur Alligood's third full length album, I Have Not Seen the Wind, almost didn't happen. He began recording the album in early 2010, but sometime along the way the funding started to dwindle, so like many independent artists, Alligood started a fundraising campaign on Kickstart. As a result, his fans pulled through and Alligood was able to release the album in March.

I Have Not Seen the Wind is a solid collection of clean songs with an acoustic blend of folk, pop, and country. The album showcases Alligood's ability to write poetic and descriptive lyrics that remain humble and approachable through their differing styles. Beginning with the sparse folk tune "Show Some Heart" which features a guitar, organ, and Alligood asking someone to let down some walls, unlock some doors, follow some dreams, and show some heart. Then, Alligood switches gears on "Keep Your Head Up" and "Make Her Smile" giving the listener catchy, mid-tempo country influenced songs with some steel and percussion, while the country-pop influence and steel carries over in the mellow and melodic "Turn It Over." On "Piece Me Together," Alligood's thoughtful and intimate lyrics are complimented by a stirring pedal steel whereas toe-tapping hooks saturate "Where the Storm Meets the Sun." "Gavel" is Alligood's lyical piece de resistance against judgmentalism, and the title track is a subdued folk number and songwriting achievement with lovely poetic lines like, "I've seen parting be such sweet sorrow, but I have not seen the wind."

Alligood is a talented wordsmith who has created an accomplished album replete with lyrical pearls that only an outstanding songwriter could pen. And, if it wasn't for Kickstart and Alligood's fans, the world would have never heard his wonderful words and great melodies.

To hear I Have Not Seen the Wind, you can stream and download the album on bandcamp.

Arthur Alligood's Website