Reviews

"Vargo has discovered and fostered his own songwriting and today, he gives us his latest single, the lilting waltz 'Fault Lines.' Ruminatively descriptive lyrics set a dusty picture of loneliness and empty dreams. And at the end of the day, no answer is really given. But that’s okay, because sometimes it’s more about the question anyway; more about, as Dave puts it, 'reaching across the fault lines.' Between that, the tight harmonies, the punchy guitar, and the crisp, widescreen production, Dave Vargo continues to prove that he can work his way around a song better than almost anyone..." Read More

— Brian Erickson, You Don't Know Jersey

"His new single, ’Fault Lines’, has all of his usual sheen. There is an effortlessness about Vargo’s singing that falls neatly into an Americana genre but this would be to underplay the honesty and grittiness of his music that lifts it into the far bigger pool of singer songwriter music that would include the likes of Bruce Springsteen’s current style; good, honest Country rock at its best..." Read More

— Steve Holley, Essentially Pop

"Vargo’s been back in the studio in recent months as well, and is currently working on overdubs for the tracks that will be on his as yet untitled third album, due to drop in late 2021/early 2022. While several impactful personal losses during the pandemic time have influenced many of the songs he will be presenting, his new single, the passionate ballad 'Fault Lines', was inspired by his experiences in Nashville on a trip he took there several years ago..." Read More

— Pitchfork Music

"Dave Vargo is among the most criminally underrated singer/songwriters I’ve been following in the last couple of years, and if you listen to his new single “Half Bad,” you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. His vocal style is direct but not lacking the luster of a rustic folk-rocker in complete control of his own artistic narrative, while his approach to instrumental fireworks has never left critics or fans disappointed - even in an era heavily favoring minimalism well outside of his aesthetical realm. This is a player who doesn’t overthink his lyrics nor his musical moxie, and in “Half Bad,” everything he does brilliantly..." Read More

— Anne Hollister, The Indie Source

"If you like roots rock songwriters or intelligent AOR fare from the late eighties, early nineties, Dave Vargo will likely be a good score for you. His debut Burning Through is a spectacularly well conceived collection for this New Jersey native and longtime in-demand session guitarist..." Read More

— Scott Wigley, Indie Music Reviews

"With a sound comprised of influences ranging from a mix of John Mellencamp, Gin Blossoms, and Counting Crows, we get a very anthemic album filled with elite musicianship, high quality production value, terrific vocal harmonies, and dynamically tasty guitar work on this beautifully written record that showcases Vargo‘s very well-put-together vocal structures and mid-range vocal approach perfectly...." Read More

— Justyn Brodsky, Artist Reach

"Burning Through is a beautiful collection of songs from a notably sincere singer and songwriter. The album begins with a song entitled Come Take Me Home, one that opens up initially as a gentle and heartfelt acoustic folk song, soon erupting into a much bigger, brighter sounding track with an overwhelming warmth and a brilliantly satisfying hook section. The instrumentation featured on this and throughout the project is both simplistic yet flawlessly appropriate with every moment that passes. Each riff, each note, each melody, each build up and break down – all of this has been placed with care, and it makes for a reliable and calming listening experience..." Read More

— Rebecca Cullen, Stereo Stickman

"In anticipation of his second full-length solo album, singer/songwriter Dave Vargo is releasing a pre-release, two-song teaser EP that sports all of the gentle, airy rhythm and smoke-stained vocals speaking nothing but honest wisdom that he’s become so well-known for. The songs, “This Time Around” and “Battle Burns,” may be only a taste of what’s to come with Vargo’s new record, but they’re a sumptuous slab of Americana that satisfies on all fronts. You don’t need to be well-versed in Vargo’s music to get hooked on this stylish material, which is easily among the very best of his career yet..." Read More

— Scott Carlito, Indie Band Guru

"Wow! Spaces In Between is without a doubt on my list of Top 10 albums of the year. Wonderfully wrought, Dave Vargo’s talent is nonpareil. This is a magnificent album..." Read More

— Randy Radic, Rawckus Magazine

"This release is another fine example of his prowess, both as a musician and a songwriter. He pushes towards a big guitar sound with strong melodies and great hooks, something that builds upon his studio synergy with Tim Pannella, his co-producer and contributor on drums and percussion. The sound is really bright and airy, with lots of space for the arrangements and melodies to breathe..." Read More

— Paul McGee, Lonesome Highway

"Dave Vargo's bio lists some impressive credits. The New Jersey native graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and subsequently became a touring musician and in-demand session player. In that regard, he had the opportunity to work with a number of distinguished artists, among them, Whitney Houston, Phoebe Snow, and Vonda Shepard. Nevertheless, it's the music that matters, and given his current activities as part of an acoustic duo called Kim and Dave, his Dave Vargo Trio, and in particular, the music he makes on his own, he proves that point. Vargo's third solo album, Crooked Miles, is a solid, driving, and determined set of songs, each of which resonates with power and purpose. Songs such as "Half Bad", "Best Version", "Nobody's Fault", "Should Have Known Better", and "You'll Know" offer an emphatic sense of resolve and resilience that makes his melodies soar. Vargo excels at capturing his listener's attention and mining the gravitas inherent in each offering. And that allows Crooked Miles to fully to fully go the distance. "

— Lee Zimmerman- American Songwriter Magazine

"The lyrics paint a series of images to set the scene, before things suddenly brighten up for a musically bigger chorus – at which point the lyrics contrastingly turn to self-reflection and uncertainty; a majestic pairing of elements that reaches straight for the heart. From here, we return to the mellow swagger of the verse, with a few additional female vocal fragments to reinforce certain lines. The next time we hear the rise up – ‘hard to know which way to turn…’ – it’s instantly comforting, passionately engaging, and we feel the subsequent shift ready to occur in a way that strong pop songwriting tends to deliver..." Read More

— Rebecca Cullen, Stero Stickman

"Dave’s vocals is as interesting as the best story you’ve ever had read to you – this whole song opens up like an audible journey that’s guaranteed to keep you hangin’ on every word. Guitars on-point…love the distance you’ll hear on them in the short solo that takes place just past the three-minute mark, and all throughout the song you can hear how they sparkle & shine like lights far away…like beacons of hope on the other side of the “Fault Lines” beckoning you to make that leap of faith and cross over. It’s all as mesmerizing as it is enchanting, charismatic, and character-laden – if you’re looking for stoic songwriting and the flawless execution of it all when it comes time to record – chances are you’re gonna have no problem at all sliding Mr. Vargo here right onto your playlists..." Read More

— Jer, Sleeping Bag Studios

"Today, he returns with “Half Bad,” a longtime set list staple whose studio counterpart positively shines when held up to the light. Drawing influence from alt-country all-timers like Old 97s, the new single moves along on the strength of shimmering Nashville-style production, and Vargo’s rough-hewn vocals. But there are still plenty traces of the old session pro in between the bright strums of acoustic guitar. And it’s that tasteful contrast, along with a killer singalong chorus that makes “Half Bad” one of Vargo’s most exciting, engaging tunes..." Read More

— Brian Erickson, You Don't Know Jersey

"When Dave Vargo cuts a single, you can count on a couple of elements to be present in the material; first and foremost of these being his trademark climactic chorus. Vargo starts off nice and easy per the standard for his songwriting style in his new piece “Half Bad” but doesn’t hold back from modulating his tempo to rev up the tension right when we’re not expecting him to, allowing for his lead-in to the chorus to feel like the rocky road into the future all of us have to drive whether we’re prepared to or not. It’s introspective and provocative both melodically and lyrically, and for fans like myself, it’s exactly what I expect..." Read More

— Loren Sperry, Music Existence

"...Choruses are amazingly strong and stay with you for days as Vargo’s merry men (the band recording consists of Dave Vargo – guitars & vocals, Tim Pannella – drums and percussion, Erik Romero – bass and keys, and Kim Boyko – backing vocals) play integral parts to make this song the super country crossover I’m sure it will become. Vargo’s guitar work is simple and elegantly understated...." Read More

— John Pfeiffer, The Aquarian

"The album “Burning Through” by Dave Vargo clearly deserves a 5 star rating, but just I want to get my two cents worth in there anyway. If you’ve listened to Vargo at all, you’ll know that he is an amazing song writer and an even better lyricist. Musically, the album runs the gamut from pensive, slowed down numbers to upbeat Americana and Country gems. Perhaps even more impressive than Vargo’s songwriting abilities, are his lyrics. The man is a keen observer of life with an impeccable ability to put into words what it’s like to be, at the risk of sounding cliché, human..." Read More

— Jacob Aiden, JamSphere

"The emotional driving “Battle Burns” finds its way to us first through the texture of its opulent guitar strumming, and eventually, through the harmony created between Vargo’s vocal track and the chic string arrangement cushioning it in the master mix. His contemplative attitude is matched by the melancholic tone of his band. I’m very curious to hear the rest of the songs that will comprise the album that these two tracks were cut from, as if these songs are any measure of what the record will contain as a whole, it may well be the release that brings Dave Vargo’s music out of obscurity. The stars appear to be aligning for his breakthrough moment, and after hearing this pair of hits, I think that his time has finally come..." Read More

— John McCall, Too Much Love Magazine

"There’s always pressure on any artist, no matter what their talent, to produce a good product, especially if their first is well received. spaces in between not only meets those expectations but exceeds them by a wide margin..." Read More

— Danny Coleman, NJ Arts

"Vargo has lent his guitar prowess to studio sessions and organized musical events around the Jersey Shore including Musicians on a Mission and his own Pierce Sessions. Conversely, he also manages his successful investment firm to balance it all. Whoever said creativity and financial intelligence are mutually exclusive clearly never met Dave Vargo..." Read More

— Jessica Guica, The Aquarian

"The versatile Vargo, a Berklee graduate who’s worked with a diverse number of artists including Whitney Houston, Phoebe Snow and more, also curates must-see NJ-area songwriter showcases. “Without A Fight,” from his second release “Spaces In Between,” parallels his internal demons with the encroachment of increasing external negativity (“turning lies into news”), complete with an imaginative and weaving snake-like guitar solo..." Read More

— American Songwriter