Album Review: "Someone I Ain’t / No One But You" by Roly Daniels
Let’s get real for a sec—Roly Daniels’ Someone I Ain’t / No One But You is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released in 1984 under Mint Records, this UK gem falls squarely into the Country genre but with enough Folk vibes to make it feel like home. It’s not flashy or overproduced; instead, it’s raw and honest, kinda like chatting with an old friend over a pint.
The opening track, No One But You, hits different right off the bat. The melody feels warm, almost nostalgic, like driving down a country road at sunset. What sticks with me is how simple yet heartfelt the lyrics are—it’s basically a love letter set to music. There’s no frilly stuff here, just genuine emotion and a guitar line so smooth it could lull you to sleep (in a good way). Honestly, after hearing it once, I found myself humming it all day. Annoyingly catchy? Maybe. Totally worth it? Absolutely.
Then there’s Someone I Ain’t. This song flips the vibe a bit—it’s more reflective, maybe even a little bittersweet. Daniels has this raspy tone in his voice that makes you believe every word he sings. He talks about self-doubt and identity without making it sound cheesy or forced. It’s relatable in a “yeah, I’ve been there too” kind of way. Plus, the harmonica solo halfway through? Chef’s kiss. It adds this unexpected layer of depth that keeps things interesting.
What’s wild about this album is how unpretentious it feels. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel—it just tells stories that stick. Listening to it now, decades later, feels like finding an old photograph you forgot existed. Sure, the production might feel a tad dated if you’re used to modern polish, but that’s part of its charm. It’s authentic, stripped-back, and refreshingly human.
If anything, what stays with me most isn’t just the music itself—it’s the realization that sometimes the simplest songs say the biggest things. And hey, isn’t that what great art’s supposed to do? Make you think, feel, and maybe laugh a little when you catch yourself singing along days later.
Oh, and fun fact: apparently, Roly Daniels didn’t even expect much from this record back in ’84. Guess he underestimated how much we’d still be talking about it nearly 40 years later. Whoops!
