This month Linda gives us "Quick Hits" on new CDs from Fastball and
Katy Rose
Fastball - "Keep Your Wig On"
This CD is a departure
for the guys in Fastball. After listening to them for many years, this
CD is the most rooted and solid sounding to date. No more heavily, saturated
radio tunes from this CD. These songs are some of the best written &
produced from the band.
Don't worry about
the new direction of musical style from Fastball. There songs are still
as quirky as ever.
They are still as
visual as their past CDs. And these songs are every bit as infectious to
the listener. You may not realize it, but you will find yourself subconsciously
humming along to songs far after the CD is out of your stereo.
Two tracks are noteworthy
on this CD. "Red Light" & "Perfect World" blend a Southwestern hybrid
rock country vibe. Their sound has a lot rootsy, bluesy overtones. It makes
the listener look forward to each new track because it has the ability
to give each song a completely different personality.
As quirky as ever,
the title of the CD Keep Your Wig On still exemplifies the style
of Fastball. Although the songs are not recognizable on the radio right
now, they are true stylistic gems.
With the influx of
female teen divas and rockers in the current music environment, it seems
that most labels are cashing in on what seems a sure bet in reaching the
prime demographic music public. Give them someone they can relate to in
terms of age & angst. For the most part, that formula is paying off.
But for every one good, solid artist out there, the labels are churning
out in mass production mediocre music by the younger set.
Case in point, Katy
Rose. Her debut release entitled Because I Can is a futile attempt
to cash in on the visually appealing yet somewhat rockin sound. Avril Lavigne
and even Ashley Simpson can pull this off. However, in the case of Rose
this CD has a little to offer in terms of substance and even less in catchy
hooks.
For the most part,
the first five tracks are a kind of melodic spoken word in verse. It is
almost as if she is afraid to actually sing the melody and opts to speak
the verses. Most of the chorus' within those same five tracks attempt to
showcase Rose's vocal capabilities, yet drown her out with the instrumentals.
The only track which
shows even the smallest glimmer of Rose's vocal abilities is "Snowflake".
It is a very Smokey-jazz track which is the only one on the entire CD that
has her actually singing from start to finish. Her voice is mature, raspy
and heartfelt. It is quite a departure from the rest of the album which
attempts to fuse the pop punk sound so popular in today's music scene.
This track is the one and only highlight of the whole CD.
All remaining tracks
after "Snowflake" are as lackluster and the first five. Being able to get
through a whole verse and chorus without skipping to the next song, only
to be disappointed yet again is a listener let down. Instead of trying
to Xerox Katy Rose into something that is already out there and letting
her truly show what she could do with a team of better writers and producers
she could be someone to watch in the future. The talent is there, but to
pigeon hole her into what is trendy right now is the downfall of this CD.
Posted by Hailey:
Katys music was mis-managed. She is a brilliant writer and I think she is a different person than they made her to be. The album was a litte over produced, but it is still GENIOUS!
Posted by Kiki:
I TOTALLY agree with charles fullbright! No need so say more.
Posted by poe:
Fullbright go suck on a cow's utter you bloody pompous wanker. You're just like all those teenyboppers who can't handle the truth. First signs are always denial. Hey Mr. Perfect before you criticize someone's writing how about you check your own for reference, you dumba**. Spielman keep doing what you do girl!
Posted by Allison:
You're right, Katy is mediocre.
Posted by charles fullbright:
your review of Katy Rose is SO off base. you have NO idea what the f you are talking about. If you would have listened to the lyrics you could see how genious it is that she does have a 'mtv' friendly sound but with depth that Avril or especially Ashlee Simpson (are you high???) could only dream about. YOU are the problem because you don't pay attention to all the details. You are just like the MTV short attention span generation you so condescendingly put down. Katy Rose's record is some of the best writing I have ever heard; and by the way, the second sentence in your second paragraph has no structure (it helps to be literate to be a writer). The intersection of your brain and music need not be traveled on by anyone with any taste....how the h did you get that job? Instead of attacking a genre, LISTEN TO THE RECORD, wanker..
ps I do think snowflakes is a great song, too.
