Dig!
https://jimtestanj.substack.com/p/a-singing-drummer-and-a-psychedelic
Carmen Sclafani, the Jersey-bred singer-songwriter behind Wiser Time, did what a lot of musicians only talk about doing: he disappeared. Holed up in a cabin out in Hunterdon County last winter, he stripped things down to the essentials — voice, acoustic guitar, and whatever ghosts decided to keep him company. The result is a modern folk record that feels both homespun and quietly ambitious, later dressed up just enough back home with a trusted circle of collaborators.
From the jump, Sclafani isn’t interested in easing you in. The opening track goes straight to scripture, tossing out references from both Testaments before landing on the uneasy question, “who among us would free Barabbas?” It’s a bold way to start, and yeah, the Dylan comparisons come easy — especially when it rolls into “1963,” a clear-eyed but hopeful look at a moment when the world seemed like it might actually get its act together.
There’s a little more muscle as the album unfolds. “Cold Hard World” slides in on a streak of desperation, while “Billionaire Blues” — dressed up with piano and harmonica — takes a well-aimed jab at the absurdity of wealth with a wink and a smirk. Sclafani knows how to balance bite with melody, never letting the message drown the song.
Even at his most personal, he keeps things grounded. “If You Never See Me Again” isn’t just a love song — it’s a breakup that happens in the middle of real life, with all the small details that make it sting a little more. That thread carries through “Divided” and “Even,” where the arrangements stay warm but the emotional temperature drops, Sclafani’s voice doing the heavy lifting.
Then there’s “The People’s House,” which takes on January 7, 2021 from the inside looking out. It plays like a fever dream, unsettling and intentionally so, forcing the listener to sit with discomfort rather than offering easy answers.
Call it modern folk, call it protest music, call it whatever you want — the label fits because the songs do the work. These are lean, rough-edged tracks built to get a reaction, whether that’s a nod of recognition or a raised eyebrow. Either way, Sclafani makes his point, and he doesn’t waste your time getting there.