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| Three |
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THIS IS THE ONE "Way back in the fall of 1999, I reviewed the first publicly available album by the Woodstock-based 3 ... I compared the band's sound to Chris Whitley, Squeeze and David Bowie. They sounded great then and they sound great now. This is the one you've been waiting for." FOUR STARS (out of 5) "It's hard these days to find a group that actually has its own sound, but that's exactly what Woodstock-based 3 offers with its latest effort, "Paint By Number" ... The recording sparkles and like every classic, everything has its own place. The songs are well-constructed and well-executed, and I'm totally into how accessible this band is. In fact, I'm having a tough time singling out a few tunes for highlight. This record is that good." FOUR STARS (out of 5) "If you've seen 3 perform over the last 6 or 7 years, or have heard one of their earlier recordings, it's time for an update. A big update, because this is one band that keeps growing and evolving ..... This CD finds the band moving squarely into the realm of pop music with beautifully soulful songs that place more emphasis on infectious melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and hooks that catch onto your brain tissue and stay there ... a very smooth and bright album that could be very radio-friendly. There are four or five songs on this album that could easily spring onto the charts with a little media attention." This album is a real find. I happened to catch Three's live concert performance on PBS's "MHz Presents" one Saturday night, and I immediately went to their site and bought this album, ninety percent unheard. What I found after just one listen was that this Woodstock NY area group could be dabbling in the future of rock and roll. They've got the Midas Touch when it comes to insanely catchy vocals and intricately inventive guitar backgrounds. Songs like "Blood on the Blankets", "Careless Kim" and the title track essentially ooze with Adult Alternative ready hooks, just waiting for the right radio market to pick them up. And while sometimes their lyrics are overwraught with well meaning gothic touches ("I don't swim so well / It's a miracle I'm mobile / At the Choirgirl Hotel / There are teardrops in the water . . .) after just a few listens it becomes easy to let that drip away as you drown in their intensely creative grooves. BOTTOM LINE: While perhaps a bit over the top, "Paint By Number" is well worth repeated listens! You won't hear anything catchier on the radio . . . |
| Rex Fowler |
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Five Stars (*****) "Intelligent CD by an Intelligent Artist," January 9, 2001: You know, I've often wondered why some music goes unheard. Is it purely marketing? Because surely is there is a great body of work out there that should be heard but isn't for whatever reason. Well, Rex Fowler's Gettysburg is one of them. A strong overall effort with a gem called Elizabeth Park. This song, by anyones standards, should/could become a hit (whatever that is)if it gets heard. As the subject line says, an intelligent CD by an intelligent Artist. Long-time followers of Rex Fowler's work with acoustic ensemble, Aztec Two-Step, will not be surprised by the beauty and depth of Rex's first solo album label release, entitled Gettysburg: Reflections on an American Life. But even the most ardent fans are likely to be astonished by the extraordinary power and emotional resonance of this remarkable new album. The aura of civil strife implicit in the place name, Gettysburg, is the thematic foundation for the title song's exploration of the wrenching effects of personal discord, as a boy travels by bus to visit separated parents. Thus the tone is set for a narrative song cycle which is both epic and intimate. Gettysburg is a concept album in the best sense of that phrase, forming a cohesive collage of varied life experiences reflecting joy, tragedy, humor, lust, anger, sadness and triumph. The wistful charm of Girl from New York City is in stark contrast to the bitter message of Just Another Nothing With A Name. The sense of erotic excitement and danger of Elizabeth Park is strikingly counter-balanced by the melancholy mood of Too Much Blue and I Could Write a Book ('Bout Rain). The album's centerpiece song, Live and Let Live, is a vocal tour de force, displaying and dramatically resolving moving strains of mature passion in the context of an adult relationship. Throughout the production, the sounds of rainfall, bus wheels, thunder, and even gun-shots, pull the disparate subjects and melodies into a tightly-woven tapestry reflecting the personal vision of a unique and important American artist. For those who care about music, for those who care about poetry, for those who care about songs, Gettysburg: Reflections on an American Life is an album not to be missed. |
| Geez Louise |
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Essentially a demo recording, this unmastered mix of original songs is unusually articulate, both musically and lyrically. The artist rummages through a broad range of styles, including blues, funk, folk, country, pop and even some light jazz. The words are plain-spoken and accessible, but reveal layers of meaning upon repeat listenings. A musical grab-bag. |
| Canine |
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"Canine shines best when it's rockin' hard ... Fil's vocal's have a near-perfect classic rock sound. He could easily have been fronting a band in the heyday of arena rock - but fortunately, he's here now powering the songs of Canine ... A very big sound with really top-notch stuff ... innovative arrangements, diverse elements and through it all, vintage, soaring rock leads." Four (4) stars **** (out of five) "Tremendous vocals! Tight, innovative arrangements ... Great Band!!" Eddie Kramer, legendary producer of Jimi Hendrix, Kiss and Led Zeppelin. |
| Tongue 'n Groove |
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Tongue 'N Groove have puttogether a remarkable mix of rhythmic and harmonic flavors on an album that that draws from pop stylings of the past but decidely looks to the future. Groove-driven and R&B-based, replete with samples, loops and beats, this album incorporates elements of techno, drum & bass, soul and light jazz in an ingenious mix of dance-oriented vocal and instrumental tracks. Driving vocal lines propel the powerful funk of "Human Highway" and "Get Your Self Respect Together." Deep grooves inform the disco-inflected "Live Your Life" and the rap/jazz mix, "When It Feels So Real." The gentle mood of "Jet To Heaven" is in contrast to the aggressive tone of "New York Free-Style." A perfect example of the bands marriage of the old and new is the brilliant re-shaping of Carol King's "It's Too Late." Progressive, electronic funk and soul with a Motown heart. |
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Joe Marchetti has crafted a lovely collection of melodious, intelligent ballads with adult themes and complex sub-texts. Jazz singer, Sandy Lomax. brings a pop sensibility to the material while retaining the sophisticated and soulful style for which she is better known. The musicianship is superb throughout the record, with the guitar playing of Bobby Lustgarten of particular interest and note. |
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