Serena Markstrom distilled Jon Itkin`s charm as a musician when she wrote, "Itkin`s agility with language shines in his short character sketches. Like James McMurtry, he isn`t from a working class background, but he channels the worries and stories of people who live in a beaten-down world." Itkin joins a long list of songwriters, like Guthrie, Springsteen and Van Zandt, who speak of and for the everyman. His world-weary voice belies his youth while serving as a reminder of the plight of the characters he inhabits. Itkin`s strength is his ability to get to the emotional heart of the song`s subject. The simple acoustic backing, the character sketches and the voice make Big Gold Guitar In the Sky captivating listening. This sophomore effort reveals a talented young writer. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released)
