Dying Scene Album Review: Brian James Hoffman – “Fool’s Gold”

Before I start this album review I just want to make sure that we clear any conflicts of interest; I distributed this record through my “label”, but I made the label for my band and decided to also release my buddy Brian James Hoffman. Did I do it cause he’s my buddy? Totes. That being said, I’ve always been a fan of Brian’s lyricism and the way he conveys a constant dull ache of existing in a space that doesn’t feel right. Fool’s Gold is only the latest release from Hoffman who has been releasing midwestern sad-dad folk rock for almost a decade. The opening track “Nothing Left to Say” lilts in with soft strums of acoustic guitar. Hoffman’s voice croaks over the treble of the plucked high strings. As we join Brian in this verse, h...