Member Since: 6/30/2006
Band Website: rpmchallenge.com/jukebox
Band Members: Spicket -Eric Burt - Guitar/Vocals/Keyboards
Joe Kocienski - Bass
Chris Olivieri - Percussion
Jim Levinthal - Drumset
Rushin’ Roulette - Performing the music of Rush
Eric "Lifeson" Burt - Guitar/Vocals/Samples
Chris "Peart" Olivieri - Drums/Percussion/Samples
Matty Lee - Bass/Vocals/Synthesizers
All other peices of music are written and performed by Eric Burt unless otherwise noted.
Influences:
Sounds Like: Here is a review of my latest album "The Business"
Artist: Eric Burt
Album: The Business
Ticket:
This track is rather up beat and funky. Vocals are nice and reasonably well written. I really like artists who do not try to forcefully granny-rhyme and he has certainly done that. The riffs are pretty nice too, although rather short. Perhaps instead of many short little riffs, a long one that really pulls-through all the way would have been better. Pretty standard rock ending, but fits the track well.
Golden Age:
Nice feeling at the beginning. There is a very cool effect on the lead guitar that gives it a fresh feeling. I’m not sure what the song is about, but it feels like it’s about freedom, letting go of cares and following dreams in the "Golden Age". Well executed, but a little fast paced, I thought. In spite of that, the repetition of certain lyrical portions compensates for that somewhat. Overall I’d say that the the track has a very nice feeling, but is a little short, would like to have heard it go with a bit more expansion on the lyrics. Again, well written. You know how to write good lyrics.
Forgotten Future:
Much slower paced than the other tracks. A track much more focused on the modality of the two types of "feeling" that are interchanged between the chorus and the verses. The song is about the struggle of young people with their modern-day problems, and how to persevere in spite of these looming obstacles; rather cliché, but works well for the music. The solo of the guitar seems out of place around the 3:25 mark, it just doesn’t seem to gel for me. The second solo is much better, but that’s because it’s the peak of the song, the climatic high. The fade at the end is probably the sanest decision for this piece of music, good choice.
Waking From a Nightmare:
Starting with what sounds like we’re about to warp through time, the guitar and drums break in to shatter our time machine! I like the melody after the guitar warms up, but then there’s a break to a completely different feel that sounds awkward in combination. The synthesizer that comes in is reminiscent of Rick Wakeman, and could be a little less HFie. Once settled into the new mood, the flow is actually rather nice. Somewhat like a journey to the centre of the earth. Pretty good for the second half.
One Eye:
Straight into the action, I like that from rock. Although this track is far from standard rock, and sounds more like a choral piece. I love the backing vocals, man. Great stuff. And the acoustic guitar is also very well recorded, but I have a personal preference for that steel-string sound. The song itself is about people being opinionated and not accepting alternative views. The kazoo bit rocks. It’s cheesy as all hell, but funny and proves a welcome comical relief. I have to give this track the award for best pacing and time-control.
Think:
An angsty song. Lyrics are a little hard to hear and I cannot quite make out what is being sung, except in the parts where the lead guitar is silent. Singing, like the other tracks, is good. Overall you have a good rock voice. This track is a rather stock rock track. You have a good control over what rock should be, because the structure is very professional and follows that which people expect of rock in general, I believe. For this reason I think your record will be very well received.
Chains of Lust:
Ooooh. Lusty. A very different sound in this track, the lyrics are also very differently paced, plus they are also much more audible. The song is about the loss of a girl, I think. I love the choral/reverb sound of the lead guitar, it really lulls the track before the hit of distortion in the chorus; nice. I’d also add that the guitar work and drums (yes, both) in this track are the best of all tracks.
Masculinity:
My favourite steel string sound. The string backing (real or synthesized) is a good touch for this style of track. The song breaks between two styles, again the verses and chorus, which are nicely complementary. The lyrics themselves are very mono-thematic wherein they follow a particular trend. The variation is minimal but you never seem to run out of original material; either that of i have an extremely short memory. The modulation on the riff at 4:02 is very well placed and breaks the track into a lighter feel that crescendos it towards the finale where the track ends with a quiet drop of all except lyrics and lead. A pretty solid effort.
Lunar Waves:
The bongos are very cool, and I’ve never heard them used in context like that. The vocals are processed in such a way that it reminds me of Roger Waters and the like. They are rather hard to hear, but so was he =). My main qualm with this track would be the audibility of the lyrics. Musically, it’s very nice with some good chord progressions and melodies. Overall, the track sounds almost... Irish. I’m not sure why, that’s what it feels like, especially in the bits where the electric guitar doesn’t play. I would have made the bongos have a bigger part in the percussion section than the standard rock kit, as it would have made the track differentiate itself from the others substantially.
Track Ten:
Hahahaha.... Well, you’ve certainly kicked the Death Metal fans straight in the nuts after that performance. Well done.
A very well executed and produced straight rock album. Chains of Lust being my favourite track. You have a very good handle on the rock genre and the material is exceptionally well recorded and mastered. I give it 8/10.
Check out my entire album at The RPM Jukebox Website and look for "Eric Burt" under artist!
Record Label: Splash Records
Type of Label: None