The greatest studio bands of past decades - like Yes, Led Zeppelin, Crowded House, Smashing Pumpkins, and of course the Beatles and George Martin - could orchestrate pop in that way. Most rock bands and producers nowadays, too worried about trying to sound like somebody else, shy away from the interesting.
Heyman doesn't have that problem. He's an original. The opening orchestral theme of "Kenyon Walls" (it suggests Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," but played on real horns and strings instead of a Mellotron), leads straight into the pounding, multi-voiced chorus. Right away we're introduced to Richard X. Heyman the confident guitarist and piano player, but above all (or behind all) the frighteningly good drummer. (This is borne out in live performance; it's worth seeing anyone he's backing up on the skins.)
If there was any doubt, the thunderous drum intro of the fist-thumping "Stockpile" blasts it away. Think Georgia Satellites on speed. Heyman does more things on the drums in these two and a half minutes than most drummers do in their band's whole set.
There's no let-up in the midtempo "All In the Way You Found Me," with its rueful Byrds/Petty chord changes, rich pop harmonies, and throaty organ solo. The deceptively simple-sounding "Winter Blue" harks back to art-rock. If you're old enough you might remember when Genesis toned its histrionics way down, but hadn't yet made the move to machine-pop. Such references aren't out of place with Heyman, who's been writing songs since 1969, though his major label period was twenty years later.
More highlights: the caffeinated, drum-drowned rave-up "Twelve Boxcars and I Still Have the Blues"; the groovy, Zombies-like harmonies of "In a Boxcar": and the grandiose marching lines of "A Fine Line." And that's only on the first half. Small gems like the ballad "Written All Over My Face," together with ambitious ones like "The Gazing Moon," poke out of this overstuffed CD's "Side B" like fighting limbs. It's too much to listen to straight through, actually. On the other hand, Heyman is one of the few artists who can put out a twenty-song disc without ever succumbing to a flaccid or disinterested vibe.
With all the sound and fury, not every song here will appeal to everyone. But it's certainly fair to say that smart rock doesn't get much better than this.
Article comments
1 - nick
Speaking of the underground/indie-rock craze at hand
A must listen to, is the new album from Hot Rod Circuit, "the underground is a dying breed". I went to their myspace and listened to the new tracks up, and it sounds like pretty good stuff. Plus it turns out they been "underground" for quite some time now. I really believe all of you will enjoy this new stuff so go check them out at their myspace.