This is a decent album from a grassroots musician; it’s well played and produced and pivots around a retro feel.
The aim appears to be paying homage to all the people and music that inspired Mr M, from rock ’n’ roll onwards.
Opener “A Bolt of Lightning” is rooted in sixties rock ’n’ roll; it reminds me of Nick Lowe. “Noon Day Gun Salute” is slower and moves on from rock ’n’ roll to a more classic singer- songwriter style. “Restitution” is more country, a bit Bob Dylan, though my thesis ends with “Moonshine”, a clever pop tune that’s a bit Del Amitri. Later songs go back in time; “Pretty Little Irish Belle” is almost Buddy Holly. “Gun in My Hand” is an odd song, part Dylan protest (love vs having a gun, a Vietnam -era sentiment), part ELO- like pop stomper. “Mama (What’s Become of Me)” sounds like an ELO title but resembles a missing song from the “Blues Brothers” soundtrack.
A lot of the album is in that territory that separates the workmanlike from the star quality, but the bluesy “Let’s Ride”, an album highlight, takes Marksberry to the next level, his vocals better suited to the song, and with organ and bluesy guitar. The later “Razor Love” is also bluesy.
“Hippy World” gets my thesis back on track, a Laurel Canyon thoughtful alt -rock tune; rather than sounding like anyone, he name -drops.
The closing track takes the album back to a higher level, Marksberry’s voice more gentle for a piano led ballad with orchestration; it sounds like a track from another album. A decent album, genres all over the place, but if you like sixties/seventies rock played thoughtfully, give it a whirl.
I streamed this to see what my platform of choice would suggest: seventies classic Rolling Stones and ELO seemed the favourites.
JMC
