Another week, another diverse selection of music for review. A release that struck me with interest but doesn’t exactly qualify for this column is Brian Futch’s And Then There Were Songs, heartfelt and heady mellow rock.
CD reviews
Joey Stuckey: The Shadow Sound
First of all, what is striking about this guy is that he is blind. Learning to play the guitar as well as this guy does it with two eyes is hard enough, blind is another matter entirely. This is jazzy rock that could possibly considered a bit mellow for this column, except for the fact it is so good. The vibe is a bit like Dave Matthews with a tad more edge. Then again he could always be able to fill Jeff Healy’s place in our hearts. There are a few tracks on here that stumble into Healy’s pop territory, while the rest of it will please the more snobbish fans of the blues.
There is a diverse collection of tracks on here ranging from the very jazzy noodling to some edgy rock. There is a hint of pop here as well but always on the musicians terms. He has a Kansas alum along for the ride, violinist David Ragsdale, who has also done time with Smashing Pumpkins. Quite a few people are touting this guy and it's not that hard to see why. This is certainly a release that will attract those who like a touch of jazz with their rock.
Tangent Plane: Project Elimi
This is rather odd progressive power metal that often drifts into the art metal realm with mixed results. It's heavily keyboard laden music, which is not that surprising as the main mind behind it all is Ralph Swan, the keyboardist. The most difficult thing to get your head round with this band is the lead singer, whose singing makes it seem that English is not his strong point. The words come out, mostly not mangled, but there seems to be little emotion or emphasis behind them.
That said, musically there is quite a bit to sink your teeth into. If you are into the odder end of the prog metal genre, then this band might be to your liking. Clearly this is a band with a fair amount of talent. It just seems to be one that is in search of a song or two. There is nothing that really leaps out at you and grabs you. This is a competent prog metal release, but nothing more than that. It shows a great deal of promise and this surely is a band to watch in the meantime.
Ultimately, this sort of music has to convince you to get involved, and this release fails that test. Almost there, but just not quite, and considering the talent in the genre, they need to step up its game.
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