Recently Billboard ran an article
about how the top of the charts, not just here but around the world, has been
devoid of solo rock guys. (This was just after the article declaring the death
of "alternative" - if only we could be so lucky.)
In
it there were various major label weasels musing about this state, how they're
looking for a few good men. So, if some mystified weasel is out there reading
this, I suggest you leave your office and take a trip to San Francisco to meet Chris
von Sneidern.
On
this, his third album, Chris has polished his one-man Difford & Tilbrook-crossed-with-Badfinger
amalgam to shine so bright that even those in the corporate suites should
recognize it.
Go!
is composed of 11 crisp, soulful songs. They're full of clear, yearning lead
vocals and multi-tracked harmonies and backing vocals (all CVS) that are
stacked to the heavens and arranged to perfection.
The
playing is steady'n'clean guitar combo work with nice additions to
individualize each song - the organ in "Lose Yr Mind," the wah-wah in
"When You're Right," the piano in "Tell Me Again," and the
12-string in 'North Country Girl," to name a few.
This
is the bar height that the forthcoming Freedy Johnston and Ron
Sexsmith albums will be measured against.
-David
Snyder