Reviews roundup – Adrian Weiss vs. JP Soars vs. The Forrest McDonald Band vs. Vertica
ADRIAN WEISS
Easy Game
independent
Well, that was just widdleicious! Herr Weiss is a red hot shredder from Dusseldorf, who likes to get his metal on, while his fingers are flying in ridiculous fashion.
Apparently, “Easy Game” is his second solo instrumental guitar album following on from a 2011 release called “Big Time”. Musically, he’s actually over in the world of prog metal, so it actually might appeal more to fans of Dream Theater and their ilk, than it will the lost tribes of Vinnie Moore fans looking for a new home.
He’s got an excellent rhythm section in the shape of Lars Zehner and Marcel Willnat, and with a selection of fat riffs and blistering solos, it has quite a wide appeal, despite its instrumental status. Seems that Herr Weiss is also the new guitarist in power metal band Gloryfall, as well as prog outfit Forces At Work, and that certainly explains the idiom he’s working in. My personal favourites were the riff heavy ‘Awkward Silence’ and the mellow grooves of ‘Aim To Please’, but whatever groove you drop your digital needle into has something worth hearing.
JP SOARS
Full Moon Night In Memphis
independent
Damn right, I’ve got the blues! And who better than to provide that than a fella who used to play in extreme metal bands before finding his righteous home in the blues.
And he certainly knows how to rock them, right from the off with the splendid title track. Aided and abetted by a splendid drummer and bassist, he also reels in the likes of Brandon Santini to honk his harp. His voice may not be to everyones taste, as it’s a tad on the rough and ready side, but when he lets rip on some slide guitar you can forgive him a lot.
Although his basic style seems to be early seventies blues rock, with ‘Somethin’ Ain’t Right’ a fine example, he can also knock out a mean slow blues like ‘Makes No Sense’ before getting hot and sweaty on the funk fused ‘Back To Broke’. A few of the numbers benefit from some added sax and trumpet, as well as the odd blast of Hammond, and these songs really benefit from the enhanced arrangements. An excellent third release from Mr Soars.
THE FORREST McDONALD BAND
Turnaround Blues
World Talent
If you’re the kind of person who reads the credits on albums from years of yore, then you’ll have seen the name Forrest McDonald. Because Mr McDonald was a Muscle Shoals Rhythm section member, as well as guitarist for the likes of Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Reed, Jr., and Doris Troy amongst many others. Which means he is on Bob Seger’s ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’, my legendary karaoke turn.
This, however, is his 12th album, and one that features one time Rainbow keyboard player Tony Carey, who has been working with him for a decade now. He’s been a professional musician for nigh on 50 years, and you can hear how, as he powers through an excellent set of originals and covers. The rest of the band are just as good, although it’s the inspired guitar work that keeps you coming back for more, especially the title track, the cover of ‘V8 Ford Blues’ from James Cotton, and the off kilter closing jam, ‘Two For The Money Pts 1 & 2’.
If you’ve never heard his guitar playing, then do yourself a favour and take a listen to this, immediately.
VERTICA
The Haunted South
independent
When it said that Vertica is a four-piece collective from all over the east coast, I assumed they came fae Port Seton. But seems that they are actually from over there in the American colonies to the west. And they’re certainly interesting.
Turns out this is a 13 song concept album, although quite what the concept is eludes me. They’re operating in that fuzzy post-rock drone world where all the clever university arts students go to be hip, which means that James McCurley (drums, piano, vocals), Tyler Downey (guitar, vocals), Joshua Ruppert (bass, screamed vocals) and Emily Brunson (lead vocals) can go from shit to inspired in a matter of seconds.
They’ve even got a potential hit single in the shape of ‘Ghost Of Summer’, which would be eaten alive by alt-rock radio if they got their hands on it. Elsewhere, they mix up ambient, soundtrack styled sections with moe mainstream modern rock, and even if they’re not as big and clever as they would have you believe, there are some very interesting ideas and arrangements going on. When they get it spot on, though, as they do on the Anathema like ‘You’ve Been Warned’, it’s a rerr listen.
One for that art-rock loving cousin whom you never know what to get for his birthday.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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