“With 12 rootsy songs consisting solely of guitar, harmonica and words, Dana Gross’ latest album seeks to capture the spirit of music from the hills of Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta. The disc, playfully titled “Pirate Love Songs,” is slated for release on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Of course, if Gross attempted to play any of these songs for real pirates, they would probably pistol whip him and pillage his guitar. But that’s beside the point. Gross seems to operate on a plain where even pirates can fall in love and show their tender side.

Although the singing is a little off-key at times, Gross’ voice has a rustic charm that grows on you with each listen. His acoustic fingerpicking beckons to the core of folk music, and his harmonica drawl echoes generations of tradition. On his MySpace account, Gross likens his sound to “the heartbeat of trees” and points to influences ranging from Bob Dylan to Miles Davis to Jerry Garcia to Slash.

A musician since the age of 12, Gross wrote and performed every song on the independent album, recording them in his hometown of Portland, Maine. He has begun to garner attention in Portland’s folk scene, and his songs have a simple purity that is hard to resist.

Listeners thirsting for something beyond the traditional might yawn at “Pirate,” but there is something to be said for music that upholds tradition. Gross carries the folk-roots torch with confidence, showcasing a style that is heartfelt and accessible. The lyrics are thoughtful and poetic, with gentle rhymes about heartbreak and hardship. And, just to spice things up, Gross exchanges his guitar for a banjo on the strikingly eloquent “Kick the Chunk.”

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/danagross.”

-Matt Kanner December ’07 The Wire, Portsmouth, NH