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Band/Artist:
Jeffrey Ryan Smoots
Title:
Wings Of Gold
Release Date:
1998
Label:
Released by
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Total Time
48:56 |
Track List
1. Intro
2. Living
3. Fade
4. Homeland
5. Pound
6. Change
7. I know
8. Never Never Land
9. Natural Disaster
10. V
11. Find A Way
12. Wings Of Gold
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Personnel:
Jeffrey Ryan Smoots
Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards |
David Beardsley
Drums |
JRS -
Wings of Gold
This album was originally released by the late Brian Hirsch of Moonchild Records.
Although I had heard and read much about this CD, I never had an opportunity to
sample this music until now, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.
This is not an album which progholes are going to enjoy at all. For starters, the
longest track here clocks in at less than 5 minutes, and we all know how fixated
progholes are with length. It's also quite sad how fixated I am on the term "proghole",
but I digress...
The album to me sounds like a pop-friendly mix of various rock/prog acts, such as
Styx, Triumph and Dream Theater (or what some Dream Theater tunes would sound like
without the use of odd meters). The vocals are superb, and the instruments in
general are skillfully performed. However, I must say I am NOT a big fan of the
sound of the album, especially the drums and that snare! It sounds too 80's, which
to me is synonymous with excessive cheese. The drummer plays very well, but his
sound makes me cringe (sorry...). If this album had a more tribal or modern drum
sound, it would have really given the whole matter considerably more cojones. But to
me, this kind of sound gives everything it touches a sense of sterility and musical
flaccidity, which only subtracts from the many good things going on.
I enjoyed listening to this album. Each and every track has hooks, melody and
excellent singing. It would've become a favorite if they could have made it sound
more modern, but fans of melodic hard rock and even 80's Metal will find much to
like in this disc. Head bangers, be warned: there's no make-up, hair spray or lyrics
written by imbeciles, but there's enough guitar fireworks to merit your interest.
Wings of Gold is definitely worth checking out, so do yourselves a
favor, go to Fossil Records, download the audio samples and decide if this
is your bag.
Reviewer: Luis Nasser
Rating: 7 keyboards
Review Date: 04/01/02
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Jeffrey Ryan Smoots
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