The spirit of Tom Waits, in which low-key folk becomes more unsettling than death metal, lives in this Brooklyn bard. Though years behind in the gravel of his growl (DiMenna's voice is still dewy-fresh), the troubadour brings old-soul gravitas to slide-riddled noir.
J DiMenna's soothing voice, dark musings, lyrical prowess and tapestry of sound has amassed him countless adoring reviews and an ever-growing fan-base. He is "skilled at understatement" (Nashville Scene) and his "well-wrought lyrics and intricate writing provide a bridge between diverse styles, from Beatlesque to Waitsian." (Time Out New York). NPR's Bob Boilen says, "DiMenna's made a CD that's infectious... The kind of infectious music that I find myself singing and not realizing what it is or how it even crept into my subconscious.". If He Could Speak Now is a digital-only live EP which accompanies the national re-release of DiMenna's critically acclaimed album Awkward Buildings. The tunes here are taken from an XM Cafe performance at XM Radio and a show in DiMenna's former home base of Asheville, NC.