I agree, Frank.

Production is heaps of fun and so many people give in to the temptation to layer on the sound. It produces dynamism that can be enormously rewarding personally, great to play in a group, sing harmony, get studio mix, the Big Beat, all that. BUT...

The longer I go on, the more I want to listen to the sound of a solo voice, sometimes alone, sometimes with a solo instrument. I think it's because I like my music stripped down to what one person's vocal cords and fingers, unassisted, can do.   Why? Because it's lonesomer and just sounds righter somehow.

And partly because at the core, each of us is one musician, carrying along whatever we can carry by ourselves. Sort of a portability issue. (That's not very clear, I know; the feeling is clearer than any way I can describe it.)

Like picking and singing off a high front porch by your ownsome till the skeeters drive you indoors.

But I admit the casual listener will pretty nearly always gravitate to the bigger sound. 'S the way it is.

Bob