Lynn Patrick - Winnie's Guitar
One can't help but feel, when listening to Lynn Patrick's debut release Winnie's Guitar, the warmth and care that went into making the CD. The all-instrumental, (almost) all-acoustic recording, which is comprised of 10 short compositions, exudes friendliness throughout. The addition of bass, fiddle, and mandolin on several tracks helps to add some variation to the record. Patrick is clearly interested in creating a mood, rather than showing off, so those looking for virtuosic guitar playing would be advised to look elsewhere. Which isn't to say Patrick isn't a highly skilled guitarist. She clearly is, but the emphasis here is on the songs, rather than the performance.
Patrick has correctly chosen to keep the album running time rather brief (under 30 minutes). For, although the music here is certainly enjoyable, each of the tunes are in major keys, and all emphasize a folk-ish style, so a longer CD might have been redundant. If the rather brief running time doesn't bother you, you'll find Winnie's Guitar is a sunny, feel-good recording that'll undoubtedly lift your spirits.

Firehouse - Category 5
You have to applaud Firehouse for their courage; their current recording, Category 5, features a style of music that has been decidedly un-hip for almost ten years. Ever since Nirvana turned the music world upside down in the early 1990's, the "glam rock" era has been generally been looked back upon with scorn, and even embarassment.
This apparently doesn't concern Firehouse, whose music sounds at times recalls Bon Jovi (thanks largely to singer C.J. Snare, who often sounds startlingly similar to vocalist Jon Bon Jovi). Firehouse has embraced the genre fully, and the results are generally rather convincing. Tracks like "Bringing Me Down", which starts off acoustically, but, as is common with tunes in the genre, quickly turns electric, offer genuine cross-over appeal. A firmer hand in the producer's chair was needed though; some tunes are far too long, clocking in at well over 5 minutes, when the point of the tune was made after 3 minutes. The inclusion of a hidden track is rather puzzling... displaying the band's interest in a much darker, more angry style of music.
If you're not a fan of the genre, Category 5 will surely not change your mind about glam rock. Many may find the music to be somewhat fallow, cliche, and unappealing. If you're a listener who still champions the musical prowess of bands like Poison and Whitesnake, however, chances are you'll find much to like about Category 5.

Gilbert Isbin - Plays Nick Drake
The late Nick Drake has become somewhat of a cult hero since his death in 1974 (the result of on overdose of prescribed anti-depressants). The hidden sophistication in Drake's music have made him a favorite of many musicians, while his darkly-themed lyrics have attracted an entirely different audience. Despite this underground appreciation, however, Nick Drake's music has remained largely unheard by the general public.
Enter Gilbert Isbin; a guitarist whose rather dark, brooding body of work seem to make him the perfect candidate for interpreting songs from the Nick Drake songbook. The resulting all-instrumental 11 song tribute CD (ten Drake tunes and one original composition) is a highly impressionistic, often abstract recording, that is generally a very pleasurable listen.
Isbin's interpretations of Drake's music range from rather straightforward (as on "River Man") to virtually unrecognizable (on tunes like "Way to Blue"). One of Isbin's signature techniques throughout is using a low open string drone throughout a song, reharmonizing melodies over the pedal. Which makes for some very tense harmonic moments, which Isbin embraces with great relish. All of the instruments (various overdubbed acoustic guitars) on the recording are played by Isbin, although it should be noted the music is extremely minimal throughout, and overdubbing is kept to a relative minimum.
It is not a guarantee that fans of Drake's music will necessarily enjoy Gilbert Isbin Plays Nick Drake. Isbin is not afraid to freely interpret Drake's themes, and make them his own. In doing so, Isbin certainly makes the music somewhat less accessible to the general public. For the adventurous and patient listener, however, Isbin's latest effort will be rather rewarding.
Distributor: NRW/Herne, Dorstener
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Phone: 02325798146
Email: zoo-nrw@gelsen.net

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