Tuesday, August 31, 2010

DOUBLETAKE - So Many Roads (1993)


Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

This Austin band one and only rare album (Private Release) has fetched ridiculous prices at auction sites in the past.

I have mixed feelings about this one. Sometimes gets me bored, sometimes I enjoy most the tracks.
They sound like a mix between FIREHOUSE, WORRALL and TALL STORIES to give you an idea, but not so 'commercial'.

The good thing about this band is the interesting structure of the songs, based on rock of course, but not the typically that you expect.
"Living In A Black And White Movie" has an articulated bridge sounding dangerously grunge, but it's very melodic and the song works.
I don't like "She's Got The Love".
But "Julia" is a great tune, one of the highlights here, melodic with tight vocal harmonies and strong guitar parts. A very very good song.
"People" is better than you might think at first listen. Acoustically layered, sounds a lot like NELSON. Good one.
"Mistake" is a simple rocker, but skillfully arranged, again, different from the usual in this genre.
"So Many Roads" is a slow-motion tune with very nice guitar solos and a sax part that fits the tune perfectly, complementing the 6 strings. I like this one, to listen with a bottle of bourbon in hand.

Very good and accurate production for an indie, the band took almost a year to record this disc, and everything sounds polished, good mixing as well.
"So Many Roads" was re-issued not so long ago, but ironically the transfer sounds flat compared to the original press by BillPaso Records.
This is a rip from the original 1993 release (not 1997 incorrectly announced in the reissue), including artwork.
Interesting.


01 - Intro
02 - Living In A Black And White Movie
03 - She's Got The Love
04 - Julia
05 - People
06 - She's Hopin'
07 - The Call
08 - Mistake
09 - I Can't See Tomorrow
10 - Night Games
11 - Don't Wanna Dance Alone
12 - So Many Roads


Brett Axelson - Lead vocals, bkg vocals, guitar
Mark Russell - Guitars, keyboards, bkg vocals
Brent Samperi - Bass, percussion, bkg vocals
Paul Schulz - Drums, percussion, bkg vocals

Guest Musicians:
Joe Morales - sax on 'So Many Roads'
Chip Bolan - keyboards
Theresa Tyll - girl on phone
John Viehweg - percussion, bkg vocals



DOUBLETAKE - So Many Roads (1993)
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