CIRCLING FROM ABOVE Styx (Alpha Dog 2T/Ume) *****
Counting the list of studio albums on Wikipedia, I make this out to be Styx’s 18th record. Circling From Above is getting rave reviews, and rightly so. www.therockpit.net calls it “nostalgic yet forward-looking, polished yet soulful. It’s an album that proves this veteran band still has plenty of gas in the tank”, and that’s exactly what I’m hearing too.
I have a handful of Styx’s older albums and was one of those snobs that that didn’t think it would work without Dennis DeYoung; not just because of his iconic voice, but knowing Gowan as a solo star here in Canada I remember thinking “I don’t see how this is gonna work.” Then I bought their covers record Big Bang Theory in ’05 after hearing Can’t Find My Way Home on the radio and thought “hey, wait a minute; this is pretty good.” Then the album of re-recorded classics from 2010 (Regeneration Vol.1) sealed the deal and it was quite clear that this configuration was working and had considerable mojo… not unlike Black Sabbath fans who have recently discovered the power of the Tony Martin years.
Circling From Above has the punch, power and majesty of earlier Styx records like Equinox, a sense of theater that doesn’t get in the way of the more powerful aspects of the group as they deftly balance progressive elements with deep lyrics and rock muscle. The band in 2025 includes founding guitarist/ vocalist James JY Young, guitarist/ vocalist Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/ singer Lawrence Gowan, guitarist/ vocalist Will Evankovich (who has produced 3 of their albums including this one) and bassist Terry Gowan.
There’s a sense of musical adventure on cuts like Blue Eyed Raven in particular, with vocal harmonies that are quite Beatle-esque. “I’ve noticed over the last three records there’s a real effort to make sure everyone’s got a smile on their face at the end of it” Gowan says. “There’s creative friction, but everybody gets a go around the table and we all get a swing at the tree.” It’s a creative democracy that works gangbusters.
With Circling From Above Styx is not just holding their own, they’re gaining steam and creating music that rivals their classic stuff. Watch out- these guys are dangerous.
HOT TRACKS: Build And Destroy, Blue Eyed Raven, We Lost The Wheel Again
DIAMONDS AT THE RAINBOW’S END (Live In Norway) V&BT (Roller Records) ****
Last week I reviewed a Mongolian rock band, this week we travel to Norway to check out V&BT. Diamonds At The Rainbow End is their debut, and it’s a tuneful, pop-savvy rock solid piece of work that classic blues/ rock fans should eat up.
V&BT (Vigdis & Bla Trad) is 4 Norwegian musicians from various projects who pooled their talents in 2016 to create a good live atmosphere with great songs; mission accomplished. Blues/ rock is the most accurate way to describe Diamonds created by a quartet of musicians who dig the thrill of playing with real instruments. The band is (don’t ask me to pronounce their names!) vocalist Vigdis Haugen, guitarist/ composer/ producer Tom Pettersen, bassist Bjorn Lokling and drummer Christer Persson, with several former crew members pitching in here and there. After all, this was a live gig.
Diamonds At The Rainbow’s End is extremely well produced, clean and well-defined without sacrificing any of the band’s horsepower. Haugen has a great voice and Pettersen’s guitar solos are bluesy and expressive without overplaying- right up my alley as a fan. The vocal harmonies are bright and tight as they don’t shout, they sing. Although this is a rock record there’s a real pop-centric effort at play in the hook-filled songs that in turn leads to an overall uplifting melodic experience when you put this thing on. Does that make this an 80’s-style disc? Who knows- who cares? What we have here is 11 slices of prime melodic rock that includes a soulful interpretation of House Of The Rising Sun.
If Diamonds At the Rainbow’s End is their first album, then I say the sky is the limit for V&BT; can’t wait to share some of this on my internet radio show.
HOT TRACKS: Stormy Weather, Voodoo Doll, House Of The Rising Sun
MAPS- SONGS OF DAVID FRANCEY David Francey (Laker Music) ****+
Here is a special project from a guy The Toronto Star calls “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers.” Maps is a gentle yet powerful double disc collection songs, fan favorites and songs meaningful to Francey himself. If you have a hankering for warm acoustic guitar by the fireside storytelling songs, this Scottish born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter is a gem.
“I have been writing songs for more than 50 years” David says. “Each song is a map that helped me navigate through the ups and downs life put in my way. I’d have been lost without them.” Knowing that, even before hearing a single note, makes Maps just the sort of thing I want to cozy up to. It started with a simple idea; Francey asked fans to share what their favorite songs of his are and, combining that with some of his own choices makes this a deeply affecting. It’s described as stories of the working class, the quiet beauty of the natural world and the resilience of the human spirit as he has spent a lifetime observing, listening and translating experience into song, and those songs are clear, simple and direct.
In his 40’s his wife, artist Beth Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs in public and the reaction was instant. His first album (Torn Screen Door) came out in 1999, and since then he’s released 13 albums and won 4 Juno Awards… so people were obviously hungry for just this kind of introspective music. Born in Scotland you can still hear and feel that in his voice, aided by the gentle interplay between acoustic guitar, fiddle and, occasionally banjo, which gives this set a distinctive East Coast Canadian feel. These aren’t fanciful visions but straightforward and honest stories about real people and places. Shelter Valley Folk Festival says “(his) poetic perception and a keen eye for the heart of the matter are trademarks of the man and his music. His songs and stories are a direct connection for audiences wanting depth and meaning in the day-to-day”, and that really sums up the soul of this release.
Maps isn’t for everyone of course but if you enjoy gentle folk tales with a warm heart, this is a real winner with the capacity to become your very close friend.
HOT TRACKS:
- DISC ONE: Red Winged Blackbird, Hard Steel Mill
- DISC TWO: Ankle Tattoo, Empty Train
GOOD CROOK Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals (Chris Vincent Music) *****
This is a gritty musical adventure straight out of New Orleans. Good Crook is more of this singer/ songwriter/ slide guitarist’s raw and deeply human songs. Combining the mystique of Delta blues with the swagger of hard bop jazz and ragged roots music, this is a record that connects right away.
Recorded in just 2 days, Good Crook was tracked entirely live, in single takes with no overdubs or auto-tune; just a pure, human performance that favors soul over perfection. As a lyricist and even as a singer, he reminds me a lot of Ray Wylie Hubbard. He lives and writes in the French Quarter, and that spills into his songs. “It’s a circus out there every day” he says, “joy, heartbreak, madness, music- it’s all part of it.” It almost feels like he’s sitting on his front porch with a guitar and singing about what he sees, and it’s kind of cool.
Some tracks on Good Crook are just Chris and his guitar while others include his band’ Johnny Vidacovich on drums and Dean Zucchero on bass. On songs like Come Clean he plays guitar in Open G like Son House did, or Keith Richards, giving the track a real Stones feel and groove. The title cut is about the close of a relationship that should’ve ended sooner, and Bloody Monday Morning is about a friend who got a job bartending at Tipitina’s, with no experience. She was reluctant to take the gig then Roland, the original owner, told her “It’s Bloody Marys in the mornings and Greyhounds in the afternoon, plus beer. You worry too much.”
Good Crook is one of those records that’s pretty rough around the edges sonically, but in the age of AI and digital perfection it’s a refreshing breeze, described as “defiantly handmade and grounded in the raw reality of a life fully lived… played by hand and armed with the truth.” This will be on my best of the year list in December, no doubt about it. Good Crook is out August 1st.
www.chrisvincentneworleans.com
HOT TRACKS: Skinned Knees, Midnight After All, What Johnny Said
