Full of easy flowing melodies, lap steel guitar, twangy electric lead guitar and vocal harmonies, Molnar and The Naked Hearts make music partly of a country rock feel.

Molnar, who handles the role of lead vocalist and wrote all the songs lays down with prime Naked Hearts members ‘Dirty’ Dave Villano (bass), ‘Sting’ Ray Pursell (drums), Vern Warta (Fender electric guitars, Gibson lap steel, lap dobro and mandolin) and Bryan T. Baxter (harmonica) a solid, and creative base that enable the lyrics to carve out vivid imagery of various moods and textures.

Among the most pleasing and imaginative and featuring swirling guitar there is ‘Changing Lanes’ —then as they burn rubber and have a confrontation with life’s rules, and with all guns blazing the excellent opening cut ‘I Did What I Did’ hits a comfortable spot.

Unafraid to pitch himself (and the band) full hearted into a groove and become enveloped in lyrics reflecting on past loves as in ‘Things We Said,’ ‘Angel In The Sun’ and with an edge to it ‘Gone In The Morning,’ where he contemplates on how his troubles will be gone in the morning and things will be alright.

On leaving the country rock scene behind and delving deeper into both the music and his soul, Molnar’s ‘This Road’ is more folksy than modern-day American, and then we have yet another cover of traditional ode ‘Coo Coo’ (as in ‘Coo Coo Bird’). Placed in an innovative contemporary environment of electric piano and a powerful rhythm section —it edges more towards that associated with the city than the mountain habitat of the bird itself. But in its own way it works perfectly. Molnar and The Naked Hearts show enough talent to suggest they can and will I am sure go on from here —since the core of the music (ever tastefully produced) and Molnar’s story-telling vocal style is compelling.

With the boys picking some of their best work and Molnar leading in fine style, Blake Christiana and Trevor MacArthur from the excellent group Yarn lend some crucial harmonies to ‘Santa Fe’ and, there is more.

Date review added: March 29, 2009
Reviewer: Maurice Hope
Reviewers Rating:7 out of 10

When you’ve got acts like the Louvin Bros. and Kristofferson to follow, it’s hard for a young ‘un to get traction, 'specially when you aren’t gonna talk dirty along the way. Molnar knows this Americana groove well. Mixing tarot with horseshit and honey, he’s come up with the kind of winner that brings new, non-Buddy Miller life back to the genre. A tasty work that works throughout, there’s something delightfully off beat going on here that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. Genre fans take note, this is a real winner.

Chris Spector - MidWest Record Recap

Ah, Peaceful Easy Feeling. Combining some of the feelings and sonicscape of Roger McGuin, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and early Eagles, singer/songwriter Brian Molnar delivers a laid back 1970s California folk-rock vibe. Brian successfully sets a tone on his compositions, which are well-written and use smart instrumentation – never cluttering up the story-telling aspect of the songs. Nice use of slide guitar throughout “Santa Fe”; some country-picking, and what sounds like either a lap steel or pedal steel guitar round out the instrumentation on this old school country folk song.

“Changing Lanes” is a bit stronger-voiced; the instrumentation also adds a little dirt to the whole vibe, with the slide sounding grittier and the drums driving harder. “Coo Coo” adds some Ray Mazarek organ sounds ala Riders on the Storm, nailing the 1970s trippy vibe found in that signature Doors song. Further reading into Molnar’s press material indicates that this is famed musician Bernie Worrell. “Devil Singing Backwards” suggests the mellow California rock vibe present in “Santa Fe”. Melodic guitar lead break adds a nice element to the song, as does the phrasing stops and starts. A catchy chorus makes this song memorable. The song selection ends with “I Did What I Did” – which features lovely female backing vocals which add so much to the song. A call and response style slide guitar is present in the background of the track, which also adds a nice touch.

Susan White - ExMogul Music

Molnar reaches deep into the Americana sound here, with a lot of twang and songs full of experiences of regret and love. It is more alt-country than traditional because of the complexity of Molnar's lyrics, which tend toward internal rhymes and mythic storytelling.

"Devil Singing Backwards" is an example: "Through the melancholy rain I heard that devil go insane...Won't you leave the light on baby/I'm comin' home". Not the kind of thing you hear much on Cat Country radio. There is a Dylanesque quality in both his songwriting and his vocals, although the latter in Molnar's case are clear and straightforward.

Molnar's acoustic guitar and plaintive vocals are out front, backed by a top-notch band. Although the 10 tracks stay on an even keel, the band rocks out on a few which adds variety throughout the CD's 41 minutes.

The backup of bass, drums, and electric guitar is enhanced by lap steel, Dobro, harmonica, and mandolin. Parliament/Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell also plays on "Coo Coo".

Molnar generally sings with a country inflection, but he varies from the mid-tempo rock of "Changing Lanes" to the reflective "This Road," which has little backing except his acoustic guitar.

The title refers to the universal struggle between restraint and impulsiveness. This CD is closer to restraint, but it is balanced with enough thoughtfulness and feeling to appeal to listeners of both folk and country.

Dave Howell - The Morning Call

Is the artwork on the cover of Brian Molnar and the Naked Hearts' new album, 'Temperance and the Devil' a clue of the gifted lyricist's deal with his alter-ego? His first album, 'Feelin Out of Time' featured simple rhythms and bare-bones accompanyments which intensified its deep, insightful lyrics, tinged with overtones of isolation and an observer's attitude towards life.

This record punches it up with a driving band that surrounds and layers Molnar's more assured voice; instead of supporting or backing the vocals this band adds vivid color and lush textures that create each song's ambience. Think Townes Van Zandt lyrics with Dylan's-Gone-Electric musicians.

And Townes is a clear focus on this album, which includes a shimmering version of "Coo Coo", with Bernie Worrell's sparkling electric piano sprinkles that provide a fresh yet still respectful tone in contrast to 'Dirty' Dave Villano's heart-thumping bass lines and 'Sting' Ray Pursell's drumming-til-I-die intensity. In 'Santa Fe' (which offers a sweet surprise vocal harmony by the new Glimmer Twins: namely Blake Christiana and Trevor MacArthur of Yarn) Molnar channels the "close your eyes and you'll miss sunrise" of 'If I Needed You".

Stand-outs here are 'I Did What I Did', 'Things we Said', and the closer, 'Chase What Matters' (the legacy of "The Wonder of the Road" of album previous).

'Temperance and the Devil' turns the cards in Brian Molnar's favor.

Radio personality Torchy Blaine - WDVR FM