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: : IZZ My River Flows : :
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Band/Artist
IZZ
Title:
My River Flows
Released
2006
Label
Doone Records |
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Track
listing
1. My River Flows
2. Late Night Salvation
3. Rose Colored Lenses
4. Deception
5. Crossfire
6. Anything I Can Dream
7. Abby’s Song
8. Deafening Silence |
: : The Players : :
Tom Galgano / keyboards, lead vocals | John
Galgano / bass, guitar, keyboards, lead and backing vocals | Paul
Bremner / lead guitar | Brian Coralian / electronic and acoustic drums
and percussion, programming |Greg DiMiceli / acoustic drums and
percussion | Anmarie Byrnes / vocals | Laura Meade / vocals
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: : My River
Flows : :
Having suffered heavy IZZ withdraws; my addiction is once again full
blown with no recovery program in plain view. IZZ (after nearly three
years (I don't count "Ampersand" as it was a B-side/rarities deal)
between albums) have released "My River Flows," a full album of new
material and energy. "My River Flows" does not disappoint and it is in
my top five albums of 2005/2006.
What is most noticeable on this release is the definitive evolution to
their sound. Their signature vocals and arrangements are echoed in the
background and a new ethereal lushness augments the additional vocals of
Anmarie Byrnes and Laura Meade. The opening/title track immediately
grabs the listener with crispy, dissonant guitar and AM radio vocals.
The middle instrumental break is phenomenal! Fripp-esque patterns are
aflutter with a great lead synth and discordant guitars. Dynamically,
this song is all over the map, straight forward rock, brash punk and
complex virtuoso rhythms provide the skeleton to this exciting
icebreaker. "Late Night Salvation" has one of the best guitar riffs to
have been written. A mover and a shaker, this tune features the fine
guitarwork of Paul Bremmer - in your face at times and lightly flitting
on your nose the next, I was very impressed with his musicality. Tom
Galgano's vocals are crystal and pristine in both real and falsetto
voicings. In the solo section (yes, Bremmer is still great) what struck
me the most was the tight and in concert relationship of drum team Greg
DiMiceli/Brian Coralian and bassist John Galgano. The even have the co
hones to add a drum solo in the tune! While normally this would be a
non-value add to any non-live production, it is massively appropriate
here as it adds to the tension and release of the song. Yes-like
harmonies adorn the "acoustic" section of the song while guitar and lead
synth solos scamper about. The track getting some airplay is "Anything I
Can Dream" with an apparent nod to the matchless essence of The Beatles.
Piano driven, this is the most straight forward composition on the CD. A
pop-lovers delight, "Anything I Can Dream" moves and grooves to it's
hopeful message. I am a sucker for songs written for band member's
children as my favorite song is their most sparse tune on the album -
"Abby's Song" employs awesome acoustic and electric guitar to fortify
the beautiful lyrics of praise and hope for a child loved. The guitar
harmonics play at the end of the song is inspiring. The CD finishes with
the epic "Deafening Silence." A "to-the-brim" instrumental highlights
the bands skills and songwriting expertise, giving way to ebb and flow
vocals from Byrnes and Meade. This tune of spiritual question and
redemption makes very appealing to the Cprog group as it's message
offers a positive and hopeful picture. Grand in composition, yet simple
in the aural picture they seek to create, IZZ saves their best for last
using the Byrnes/Meade female voices to add the missing element to their
evolutionary sound.
I know that IZZ don't profess to be a Christian Progressive band, but
their literal and auditory sounscapes certainly leave one in a great
mood! "My River Flows" should bring IZZ to new audiences, fans and
hopefully support. A great band made better with Byrnes/Meade and a
commitment to push the envelope musically. More info:
www.izznet.com
Rating: 9 of 10
Reviewer: Jonny Rice
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Sliver of a Sun - 1998
I Move - 2002
Ampersand - 2004
My River Flows - 2005
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