Rob Smith – “Never a Dull Moment” – Review!!!

Rob Smith - Never a Dull Moment

“Cinderella” – I just get a real classic vibe from this song. Real nice opener. Almost something I could see Bryan Adams doing. The other vibe I get is that it would be incredible too see some of this stuff given the live treatment, cause this man has quite a catalog of great songs!!!

“It’s Getting on top of Me” – Again this seems instantly classic to me – kinda like when you think you’ve heard something before but you haven’t. Real pumping stuff. A little bit more attitude than the melodic opener, not that this isn’t melodic either though, but things are turned up half a notch if you will. Love the riffs. Great rocking and rolling,
and the bass lines really jump out and compliment the song bigtime!! Would love to be in the crowd screaming “It’s getting on top of me” for that breakdown bit! Yeah!!

“Never a Dull Moment” – As with all of the songs really, but this chorus is a real goody to my ears – the groove really seems to kick in at the chorus, and the melody is awesome. Some nice guitar interplay between Rob and Rob haha. Always tastiness going on which is what it’s about – totally complimenting the song which to me is the best kinda playing.

“What Happened to my World?” – OK so before any morons get in, yes this song is inspired by and probably loosely based on “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Credit for even going there – I know with my own music I’d sound like a retard if I tried something like this, but Rob does it extremely convincingly here – the guitars
definitely could be Brian May playing them, and the vocal harmonies could be the three guys overdubbing til the cows come home. The difference of course is that everything
on this track is one guy – Sir Robollio Smith!!! Epic!!!

“Free Spirit” – Gotta relate to the lyric in this one for sure!!! The guitar doodles throughout this wouldn’t be out of place in the most popular of songs of today. Very catchy.

“Freedom to be who I am” – And who you are Rob Smith, is a SHIT HOT acoustic player!!! Damn this song is really something special. Would love to see an album of all stuff like this. Really cool!!!

“You Say You Want to be free” – Some of my comments from “What Happened to my World” could go here – I can’t believe this is all one guy playing and singing this stuff!!! Also check out the song length – quite an effort to have something that long (16 minutes) and keep it interesting. Mr Smith has definitely pulled that off here. This is like
the coolest two or three songs you’ll hear this year but all joined together to equal some epicness!!!! By the way mate, next time people reckon my songs are too long, I’m gonna send them your way haha!!

“On Common Ground” – I get a real spacey kinda vibe from the production on the first part of this song with the clean tones and vocals. REALLY loving the clean guitar solo stuff. I’m always a sucker for a nice clean tone and some tasty licks – which there are plenty of here. The “kit” used for the drum programming seems to really add to this kind of song too. Always nice to hear a vocal cameo from our mate MacGyver (Richard Anderson), a longtime collaborator of Rob’s who contributes lyrics to tracks 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. Sweet track!

“Tears of the Sun” – Reading from the booklet this song was “inspired by the movie of the same name, and dedicated with deep respect to Bruce Willis and Antoine Faqua. I know Rob is a fan of Boston, which is the kinda vibe I get from the start of the song. Way cool anytime that happens!!! Having not seen the movie “Tears of the Sun”, I can only really imagine that if it were my movie this song was referencing, I’d certainly be happy and then some as it’s obvious that both Richard with his lyrics, and Rob with the music absolutely mean it!! Awesome ending to this song!!!

“Good Memories are made to Last” – Some cool interplay between the different guitar parts as always which Rob is so good at. Totally tasty playing with the leads. When the chorus kicks in, I get an image in my head of the video clip to “This is Love” by George Harrison where the family is all hanging out and enjoying each others company on a beautiful sunny day. I hear a bit that the “happier” songs are harder to write, and in my experience as a writer that can be true too. The guys pull it off awesomely here!!

“Let me Out” – BEAUT little bass runs on the intro and throughout. Love the tone as well!! Quite an eerie twist to the song at about 3.13 for a little bit which was cool, and also reminds me that the programming of the drums as always is fantastic on Rob’s stuff. A section like this with the wrong kinda drum sound would just go nowhere, but this was fantastic!!

“You’re Free” – So glad I got more of the acoustic stuff I was digging so much earlier on in the album with “Freedom to be who I am”!! Apparently this was recorded when it was raining outside according to the vocal intro – certainly not a bad way to spend a rainy day, and it almost looks like a tranquil scene – as long as “rain” doesn’t = pissing down rain haha!!

Beautiful song, and a fantastic close to the album!!!

In summing up, wow what a songwriter!!!! Amongst all the totally musically correct performances in the vocals, guitars, bass, keys etc, I guess it’s a possibility that the fact that the songs are all fantastic may be slightly overlooked!!!! So make no mistake – TOP NOTCH songwriting going on here!!! Hell Yeah Rob!!!

Everyone should buy this album and support independent music – the time and effort, and often money as well, is something that most folks don’t even give a second thought to in this age of music being apparently “free”. I sure hope that will change at some point, even though I’m not optimistic it will.

Contact robertsmith (a) xtra.co.nz or breakfree74 (@) gmail.com for purchasing info!!!!

Pieces of Eternity reviewed by Rob Smith!!!

Rob was kind enough to have this in my inbox the DAY he got the CD!!! For a dude as busy on musak as El Robbo, that’s mightily appreciated by me I gotta say!! Much thanks brother!!!!!!!!!! :D

This was also posted on the GONE WILD and friends Facebook page!!

“PIECES OF ETERNITY” BY CHRIS SZKUP

Reviewed by Rob Smith (GONE WILD)

Preface:
I recieved a copy of Chris Szkup’s new solo album (“Pieces Of Eternity”) in the mail today, on opening the package I was immediately struck with how great the artwork for this album is, a terrific job done there by Dan Verkys.

I found the album captivating and very interesting, almost like listening to 3 albums in one, with a range of different styles throughout the album.

Tracks 1, 6, 8, & 10 could be from one album, tracks 3, 4, 5, & 9 from another, and tracks 2 & 7 from yet another, but with Chris’s voice carrying most tracks, I found the mix of tracks to be very intriguing indeed.

This album shows just how versatile Chris Szkup is, as both a musical writer and a musician, his unique singing style blends perfectly with his different musical styles, and his musicianship on guitar/bass and piano/keys is first class.

A great job done by Stew Long with the mixing and production of this allbum @ Red Planet Studios.

1. Magical Occurence:
I was surprised when the Keyboards kicked in on this opening track, as somehow I had gotten it into my head that it would be a guitar opener, but I like surprises, and this opening mood peice has shades of Alan Parsons going on which I dig. Ian Bairnson styles on the guitar and the gong finish is great.

2. First Blood:
Ah! this is what I had in mind for the opener, but anyone who at first listen thought this was going to be a laid back album gets their answer right here! I have to say this is my favourite track on the album, great arrangement, great guitar. I dig it when Chris is in this mode, hot!!!

3. (I Can’t) Start Again:
This is where we skip albums, and jump into a different style completely to the last track, a solid uptempo rock track, almost Iggy Pop styles going on here for me!

4. Soundtrack:
This track runs along nicely with the last one, though a slightly lighter track. Sounds a bit like Richard Anderson on lead vocals ha! A nice big fat guitar sound on this one! with tasty licks!

5. October 22:
This track also follows the last two well, a cool quirky foot tapping song!
Chris’s vocals remind me a little bit in places of Tom Petty on this one! cool like it!

6. Transition:
Ok, the mood deepens and slows here with this cool instumental. We’re back with the opening track styles here I feel, and it draws you in. I love the mellow sound Chris has on the gatt on this track, shades of Mark Knopfler (Brothers In Arms) I can see why it’s called “Transistion”, as there are several within this track, very tastful accompanying keys and piano on this track by Chris also, nice!

7. To A Scream:
Like “First Blood” I really dig this track, a whole album of this style would be right up my back alley Chris. The vocal effects work great with this track, I’ve had some similar one’s sent my way by Richard Anderson (grins). Cool arrangement, love the lazy big chugalug chords in this track, and harmony notes played in the middle, great riff, totally dig it!!!

8. Lost Soul:
Chris’s piano skills come to the fore here! a superb track! it has a soul baring quality to it that I love, it has that Alan Parsons vibe going again, great melody! great gatt solo, I really dig your vocs on this one Chris!

9. Innate Self Destruct:
Once again a different style coming through here with this track, sits great with tracks 3, 4, 5, I feel.
Love the change in the middle where the gatt kicks in! makes me wanna get the bourbons out haha!

10. Tribal Eat Pop Slop:
Great! some latin vibe!!! You know I’m into that, way cool! I love that tribal vocal hook going on through this track, it’s kinda hypnotic, and I love the groove of this track also! another great arrangement! This track is also one of my favs, and a great way to finish off the album, wicked stuff!
This songs needs some airplay bigtime!!!!!

Conclusion:
“Pieces Of Eternity” is a very well produced album with some great songs and a cool mixture of styles throughout! Congratulations to Chris and everyone else involved, I wish you every success with your debut solo album.

Cheers,
Rob Smith (GONE WILD)

My thoughts on GONE WILD II (continued)

OK so following on from my initial review of GONE WILD II, disc 1 that you can read here.

GONE WILD II – DISC 2:

“Thunder and Lightning” – I think the story goes with this one that Rob had just shredded his heart out only to discover that his machine ended up eating the tracks on him, and left him wondering “great – what the hell do I do now”. Must have been some incredible stuff on those tracks!! I guess we’ll never know, but what we get on the finished track from the album is pretty damn impressive enough for me!!! If there are any ever GONE WILD live appearances they should totally do this song live!!

“I Caught You Out” – The title makes me think of “Howzat” for a moment, and though that may seem like a pisstake it isn’t!!! This tune is pretty cruisy rock, not too heavy, not too light. Some cool snarls in the vocal. One of those lyrics that any person (decent ones anyway) can relate to.

“Thicker” – The opening of the track reminds me of Melbourne convinience stores – where’d you record that sample guys? Haha. I think I read this was the first time our axe man ever used the drop D tuning (for the non musicians reading, this is where the lowest string of the guitar is lowered two notes, thus producing a much easier way to fret power chords, and also allowing the guitar to obviously play a little bit lower too which can inspire new things as far as composing goes). If I remember correctly too, this is MacGyver doing the much feared “high baller” on this song? Pretty cool stuff all round. Totally slamming heavy. A pretty new thing for the guys in GONE WILD.

“Is It Real” – I wish I wrote this song!! It’s a kinda loungey vibe throughout, and has that feeling of familiarity – like you’ve heard it before, even though you obviously haven’t. Could see this song working real well acoustically at a booze up, complete with yobbo background vocals and everything. Tasty saxophone stuff on this one too. I’m not the hugest phone of the sax usually, but find that when the guys team up with Robin, I’m always into it. Top stuff.

“Karma” – This one fades in with quite a bad arse bass / drums groove. Some sweet playing from Matt here, before the guitar introduces what will be the main hook of the song. When I played this for the first time it instantly grabbed me. Feels very Boston influenced, even down to some of the solos, which is a total credit in my book as they’re a great band. Again, this one should be done live if the guys ever go that way. Amazing song!!

“Doesn’t Really Matter” – Apparently I got some of this kinda stuff wrong with my Disc review, but I’m confident I hear MacGyver lead singing on this one along with Rob, and as usual their voices blend nicely. The main guitar riff of this song almost feels like signature Rob stuff now having heard a bit of it. Good solid rock on display here. Catchy melodies as usual.

“Rise Up” – (Wondering if the intro was recorded during one of the guys bourbon fests? Haha :P) The chorus to this song is a real pumper I gotta say. The song feels very familiar, but I can’t say it really sounds like any specific band…..except GONE WILD!!! That’s where it’s at!!

“The Way of the World” – When this track starts off, you can just tell it’s gonna be epic!! Great chord progression. Nice tasty fretless bass here, and the spoken intro really strikes a nerve I think. Chorus is KILLER!!!!! Great song, and touching on those subjects again that should be touched on a lot more than they are!!

“If Only I Could Find the Words” – This is one of those tracks that kinda makes it suprising that this is the same bunch of guys that also tore our faces off with “Thunder and Lightning” a while back. Totally cruisy funky blues rock that I could hear someone like Ben Harper doing. The piano on this one really adds to it as well. Just a good time all the way on this one musically.

“In the Year of the Blues” – I’d imagine the guys all enjoyed this one a lot being the blues fiends they are!! Loving it. How can you go wrong with the right bunch of guys and some blues!!!

“Where Would We Be” – Without the lyric sheet all I can say is this sounds like a pretty deep nod to a situation with a female companion of someones. Amazing chorus!! Wow!! This one actually I never realised just how cool it was because of all the songs!! Totally melodic and memorable which is 100% cool to me!! Haha some great samples in this one!!

“Bourbon Blues” – This was another track the guys were kind enough to have me play on for them, and I still remember hearing of the idea for the song from Rob – “was just an idea so I went with it” real modest like. I heard the song and went “SHIT – I love this!!” and I still do. Great fun to play to. All the guys did great with their bits. Honoured to be along for it!!

“21st Century Cool” – Not sure where the intro for this is from but I love it, and then the guitar that kicks in. Awesome!!! Sounds a bit like Brian May “Ressurrection” style there which is a compliment and then some!! You kind of expect it to be heavier after that than the main riff of the song that kicks in, which is a nice little twist, cause the obvious thing to do would be to crunch away as loud as possible. Totally catchy choruses here again. Rockin all the way!!

“Wild Boy” – Some cool production on those Breakfree voices coming into the track. This one proves a nice finale to the album – something not too heavy, not too light. Is like the guys want to leave you with their motto to remember them by before the disc finishes. Totally cool harmonies as usual.

Great stuff, and well done on a fantastic album lads!!! For more info, check out http://www.myspace.com/gonewildnz

My thoughts on GONE WILD II – Disc 1!!!

OK, so I ain’t no writer – and in fact the “word dude” as I have sometimes called him, is infact in the band that I’m writing this on, but I wanted to attempt to do a write up on the new GONE WILD album “GONE WILD II”, for them, for me, and for people out there also that might be curious. So here it is for your reading pleasure or maybe displeasure! ENJOY! (Coming soon will also be some LOOOOOOONG overdue words on their first CD “GONE WILD”)

I’ve gotta say that when the boys mentioned the plan was for a double album, I honestly wasn’t sure exactly how serious they were about it – maybe it was kinda a way of saying that their writing for this album was kicking arse and there were no shortage of ideas? Afterall, who really does double albums anyway. It really seemed like it would be a real task if they were in fact serious.

Somewhere along the way I’d be hearing about this song they’d been working up, then another, and another, and I thought to myself “holy shit – they WERE serious”!! Credit to them for that part of it alone. The fact that every single song holds up and is pretty damn good is something else altogether – 29 of them baby!!

The thing I really enjoy about listening to these guys is that it’s not really music that the masses make anymore. No one is really this diverse from song to song in these days of overproduced mush. This is essentially a rock album, but you couldn’t call it straight up hard rock, you couldn’t call it metal, you couldn’t call it pop, soft rock etc. To my ears, and it seems the stuff that generally stands the test of time and holds up is that which you can’t quite classify in a genre. It’s not norweigan doom sludge death black thrash metal, blues, jazz, rock, or whatever the hell, it’s just “GOOD”. I’d put this album in that boat most definitely.

It must be mentioned that again, the guys asked me to come on board for some guitar playing on their songs, which I’m always stoked to get the opportunity to do. You’ll see my comments on the songs I played on “State of Euphoria”, “Georgia Peach” and “Bourbon Blues”, but needless to say it was awesome as usual and here’s to it happening again sometime in the future!!

“Silent Tears” – Was impressed with the guys taking on this kind of subject matter and essentially going where a lot of people generally wouldn’t. You’ve gotta respect that, and not to mention the song is a damn good one too. The chorus is real real catchy as pretty much all of them are, and it features (I believe) Richards neice with a spoken cameo.

“Rock This World” – To me this is classic rock all the way. Quite an anthem really. I think I was singing this chorus to myself as early as the 2nd verse (ie after hearing it once). That’s what it’s all about. Creating a hook like that which is instantly memorable is a talent for sure!!

“Immortal” – Had been given a preview of this one as recording was underway. I’m not sure exactly when, but it really impressed me to hear the guys heavy it up this much. Is kind of “Kill the King” by Rainbow tempo, and easily as heavy. Rob shreds like a mofo on this song!!!! Metal!!!

“Bitter Sweet” – I really like the rhythm section on this song coming in – and by the way the drums on this album are programmed by Mr Rob Smith. That can be something, trying to nail it with programmed drums. For demos no worries, but on a final album, and especially on a rock or metal album – trying to make them sound huge and not to mention REAL can really be an arseache. It really feels like a rhythm section though, here especially. Love the bass tone here from Mr Matt Sturgess. HUGE!! Pumping along with those “drums”. Is some cool interplay going on between the two voices with Richard doing an almost spoken verse, then Rob coming in for the next bit. Works really well here and pretty much always does with the two guys on vocals. Great song!!

“Living on the Edge” – Some nice keys / guitar for an intro here. Very atmospheric (that word is no accident – I’m pretty sure this is Rob and Nilsy – Nils Ole Finbak – guest keys and piano on the intro, and they have just released an album of mellow stuff called “Atmospheres”!!) stuff going on. The verse coming in is a real strong melody. Instantly hummable. I like the “don’t let them stop you breaking free” too, as “Breakfree” is a nickname of Richard Anderson. Not sure if that was an Iron Maiden / Black Sabbath thing happening there, but I like it haha. Real catchy chorus here again. Sounds like Richard and Rob singing a block of harmonies together and another example of how well their voices blend. Some real tasty sax playing happening on this track too from Robin Wellaway – really adds to the mood of the song!! Almost triumphant perhaps? Works for me – Cool!!!

“Oblivion” – You know that stuff I was saying about the diversity of the album? This is where it kicks right in. HAVE to give it up here for Richard’s “Lemmy” vocal. Apparently there was a bit of ribbing in the studio along the lines of “I bet you can’t finish the song singing like that”, and Richard stepping up and kicking it!! Love it!!! Some nice harmonies on the chorus here. Not sure if it’s both guys or just Rob? Rocking though. Again they’re touching on some subject matter here. There’s even a rapping section among everything by MC Hizzy!!

“The Living Dead” – The dreaded “highballer” as the guys refer to them during recording I’m told!! Haha. That is the singing of a really high vocal part, ie “highballer”, which isn’t a favourite of Breakfree’s apparently!! This song has some REAL highballer stuff from Rob, with Richard backing him up underneath from what I hear. Is a pretty straight up melodic rocker with some tasty double tracked leads from Rob. Some nice bass fills here too!! Speaking of I really like what Matt is doing on the verses here against the riff. Really adds to it a lot!!

“Straightjackets” – Would love to know where the laughs came from at the start of this song, as I’m guessing they’re samples. Very cool with some humour thrown in for good measure! Among that you really get a sense of despair and insecurity from the lyric. Really like the little bass runs in the half time parts.

“State of Euphoria” – This is a beaut little track and was the first of three I ended up playing on. I remember being real impressed at the intro that Matt complemented so nicely with the bass, but this came after I had sent in my stuff for it. Circumstances meant I wasn’t gonna get much time to do my tracks for this one, and to my ears it shows a tiny little bit, but am still fairly happy with what I did – just that I couldn’t have done it better, but isn’t it always the way! As always I think our leads go together really well and compliment each other a lot.

“Once Bitten” – The mighty Kenny Killz introduces this song and then the boys proceed to rock pretty hard once again!! I really like that riff that leads the song in. Catchy catchy song!! Beaut long geetar solo fading this one out too, which is perfect for a guitarist like myself to review haha!! Awesome!!

“Legacy” – This is a real nice lyric and the song is another favourite from the album. Fantastic chorus on this one again!! In a better world any number of these songs would be played on regular joe radio. They’re definitely catchy enough! Must comment on the trading off with lead guitar and sax (Robin again) – what a combo!!! The guys really compliment each other and the playing is tasty all the way!!

“My Good Addiction” – Coming into this song it kinda reminds me of Satch a little bit – probably because that lick is similar to one in “Surfing with the Alien”. That isn’t a rip though, and I’m sure Rob is a fan!! I like the different angle to the lyrics. Apparently the writer wants to keep the specifics under wraps, so for that info, you’ll have to either ask him or guess.

“The Death of a Hero” – Not a bad little salute to Phil Lynott here who I know Richard is the biggest fan alive of!! Nice cruisy blues rocker with some nice backing vox as always. Infact the harmonies on both backing vocals and guitar also probably make this song a little bit different for a bluesy rocker, which I like!!

“Georgia Peach” – Haha you’ve gotta enjoy the humour on this one!! I’m not going to go there in this write up – will leave that to the lyricist, but this was another one of the tracks the guys had me play on, and I was pumped to be using a telecaster on this track cause I love them so much but so far have never owned one. Richard and Rob sound cool singing together – is a cool blend with their voices, while Matt is holding it down in fine form as always!!

“De Ja Vu” – This was the first snippet I had heard of the new stuff (excluding songs I played on of course), and I remember being real real excited at the vocal hook. Great song, and how can you not relate to the lyrics of this one!!